OSCE: Sexual Health History Flashcards
As well as identifying symptoms, what else shoud you always consider in a sexual health (SH) history?
1) Confidentiality
2) Safeguarding
3) Risk-taking behaviours e.g. STIs, recreational drug use
4) Prevention of onward transmission e.g. potential exposed partners, partner notification
What to state about confidentiality at start of a SH history?
State that the consultation will be confidential unless there is risk of harm to them or someone else.
Structure of SH history?
1) Introduction
2) Presenting complaint
3) HPC
- vaginal symptoms
- penile symptoms
- rectal symptoms
- oral symptoms
4) ICE
5) Summarise & signpost
6) Systemic enquiry
7) Last sexual contact
8) Sexual violence
9) Blood borne virus risk assessment
10) PMH
11) DH & allergies
12) SH
13) Closing
Vaginal symptoms to ask about in SH?
- Abnormal vaginal discharge: volume, colour, consistency, smell
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding: PCB, IMB, PMB
- Dyspareunia
- Abdominal & pelvic pain: dysuria, abdo pain with shoulder tip pain, constant cramping
- Vulval skin changes/itching/lesions
- Menstrual history
- Gynae history
- Obstetric history
What to clarify about vaginal bleeding in a SH history?
- Nature & pattern: ask about post-coital & intermenstrual
- Volume: spotting, soaking through pads
- Colour
- Impact on QoL
What to clarify about dyspareunia in a SH history?
- Location: deep or superficial
- Duration
- Nature e.g. sharp, aching, burning
What may abdo pain with shoulder tip pain indicate?
typical of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy
Causes of abnormal vaginal discharge?
- STIs
- BV
- Candidiasis
- Retained foreign body e.g. tampon, condom
Causes of PCB?
- Cervical ectropion
- Cervicitis caused by STIs
- Vaginal atrophy
- Cervical cancer
Causes of IMB?
- physiological (ovulation)
- contraception (progesterone depot)
- STIS
- polyps & fibroids
- malignancy (e.g. uterine cancer, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer)
Causes of PMB?
- vaginal atrophy
- STIs
- HRT
- malignancy (e.g. uterine cancer, cervical cancer and vaginal cancer).
Give some causes of abdo/pelvic pain?
- PID
- UTI
- Ectopic
- Ruptured ovarian cyst
- Endometriosis
- Ovarian torsion
What to ask about regarding vulval skin changes/itching/lesions?
Clarify location & if painful.
Clarify timing, episodic vs constant and skin irritants (e.g. shower gels, washing powder).
Questions to ask about menstrual history in SH history?
- Date of LMP
- Cycle length & regularity
- Any chance they may be pregnant?
Previous gynaecological history may influence investigations and management of some STIs.
What questions to ask about previous gynae history in SH history?
1) Ask if the patient has previously had any gynaecological problems:
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Abnormal cervical smear
- Endometriosis
- Bartholin’s cyst
- Cervical ectropion
- Malignancy (e.g. cervical, endometrial, ovarian)
2) Also ask about previous surgeries e.g. abdo/pelvic surgery, c-section, hysterectomy.
3) Clarify cervical screening history:
- date & result
- treatment
- HPV vaccination (IMPORTANT!)
It is important to take a brief obstetric history as part of sexual history taking.
What questions should you ask?
- If pregnant: gestation, planned mode of delivery & any obstetric concerns/problems
- Number of children
- Number of pregnancies
What extra questions should you consider for people with a cervix?
- Menstrual cycle
- Current contraception
- Pregnancy
- Last smear