Obtaining the Sexual History Flashcards
How to begin asking about sexual history
Taking a sexual history is an important part of a regular medical exam. I would like to ask you some questions about this if that’s alright
What are the 5 P’s of sexual history?
partners practices STI protection Past STIs Pregnancy Planning or prevention
What age group is most affected biennia STIs each year?`
15-24 (~50%)
What is the average age of menarche?
10-16 (age of first menstruation)- the first few cycles are anovulatory
What does the age of menarche depend on?
1) hormones
2) more adipose tissue= earlier age of menarche
What is the average age of menopause?
range: 40-55
average is 51
What is the menstrual cycle defined as?
the time between the 1st day or a period and the 1st day of the next period (normal 21-35 days)
What is the duration of the menstrual cycles defined as?
number of days of bleeding (average 2-7 days)
What is withdrawal bleeding?
bleeding that occurs following cessation of exogenous estrogen or progesterone products
What is dysmenorrhea?
painful menstruation
What is menorrhagia?
excess menstrual flow (bleeding)
What is metorrhagia?
uterine bleeding at irregular intervals, particular BETWEEN expected menstrual cycles
Menometrorrhagia is what?
uterine bleeding at irregular intervals, particular BETWEEN expected menstrual cycles that involves excessive blood flow
What is amenorrhea?
Basically means a woman is not having menstrual cycles
What is primary amenorrhea?
absence of menarche in the expected window (i.e. if a young woman hasn’t begun her menstrual cycles by age 16)
What is secondary amenorrhea?
no menstruation for 6+ months
What is oligomenorrhea?
condition characterized by “too few (oligo)” cycles with 6 weeks to 6 months between cycles
What is dyschezia?
pain with defection
What is dispareunia?
pain with or following sexual intercourse
What is Mittleschmertz?
abdominal pain associated with ovulatory pain (seen often in adolescents and seen during mid-cycle)
What is postcoital bleeding?
bleeding after sex ( think of STIs or tissue atrophy in post-menopausal women)
What is breakthrough bleeding (BTB)?
bleeding that occurs while a patient is taking hormone therapy (continuous oral contraceptives or hormone therapy)
What is menopause?
cessation of menstrual cycle due to depletion of primordial follicle depletion
What does the term “climacteric” mean?
it indicates the stage where a women is still having menstrual cycles but is transitioning to menopause (mood changes seen, hot flashes)
What is post-menopausal bleeding?
bleeding that occurs 1+ years after menopause (not related to exogenous hormone use)
T or F. ~50% of pregnancies are unintended
Approximately true. (~51% in 2008). Women with incomes
What is the most important question regarding menstrual history?
When was your last normal cycle?
What is the range for a full-term pregnancy?
37-42 weeks
