Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology Flashcards
What do the Fraser guidelines state?
A doctor can give contraception to a girl under 16 provided the following:
- The girl will understand their advice
- They cannot persuade her to inform her parents or to allow them to inform the parents that she is seeking contraceptive advice.
- She is very likely to continue having sexual intercourse with or without contraceptive treatment
- Unless she receives contraceptive advice or treatment her physical or mental health or both are likely to suffer.
- Her best interests require them to give her contraceptive advice, treatment or both without the parental consent
How are the physical changes associated with puberty classified?
Tanner stages. Tanner stages rate breast development and growth of pubic hair on a scale of 1-5. In practice, the patient is usually given the chart and asked what stage they are at.
What changes are involved with the adolescent period?
- Psychological /Behavioural
- Hormonal changes
- Independence
- Peer Acceptance
- Decisions over future
What areas need explored in an adolescent gynaecological history?
- Age of menarche
- Cycle (heaviness of bleeding can be assessed either by asking how often they have to change sanitary products, size of clots or with a chart)
- Pain
- Sexual (in absence of parents)
- sexual activity
- contraception
- Weight gain/ loss
- Exercise
- REMEMBER SEXUAL ABUSE
How is precocious puberty defined?
The appearance of secondary sexual characteristics before the age of 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys
How is delayed puberty defined?
- Boys have no signs of testicular development by 14 years of age
- Girls have not started to develop breasts by 13 years of age, or they have developed breasts but their periods have not started by 15
What is the most common reason for gynaecological referral of a prepubertal girl?
Persistent vulval irritation or vaginal discharge
When is the peak incidence of vulvovaginitis in children?
3-7 years old
What are the symptoms of vulvovaginitis in children?
Yellow-green offensive discharge
Vaginal soreness
Itching
On inspection, the vulva has a typical appearance with a red flush appearance around the vulva and anus
What are the causes of vulvovaginitis in children?
- Poor perineal hygiene
- Lack of estrogen
- Chemical irritation- bubble baths and detergents
When should suspicion of a foreign body be raised?
Vaginal bleeding or persistent foul-smelling discharge resistant to treatment
Child may admit to insertion of foreign body
When is the peak incidence of labial adhesions?
In the first year of life
What is present with labial adhesions?
A clear, visible thin membranous line in the midline where the tissues fuse
What are the implications of a labial adhesion?
Most asymptomatic
Diagnosis on examination but can do ultrasound to check uterus
Oestrogen therapy mainstay with surgical options if this fails
What steps may be useful in management of menorrhagia?
- Reassure
- Talk to the girls directly
- Progesterone only pill
- Tranexamic Acid 1g qds- heavy periods
- Mefenamic Acid- pain
- Combined Oral Contraceptive- withdrawal bleed/side effects so less popular than POP
- Mirena