PB#136: Management of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Associated With Ovulatory Dysfunction Flashcards
Physiologic reason behind AUB occurring 2/2 ovulatory dysfunction
Effects of chronic unopposed estrogen on endometrium
PALM (structural causes) classification of AUB
Polyp (AUB-P), adeno (AUB-A), leiomyoma (AUB-L), malignancy/hyperplasia (AUB-M)
Subclassification of AUB-L
AUB-Lsm (submucosal myoma), AUB-Lo (other myoma)
COEIN (nonstructural causes) classification of AUB
Coagulopathy (AUB-C), ovulatory dysfunction (AUB-O), endometrial (AUB-E), iatrogenic (AUB-I), not yet classified (AUB-N)
Duration of most ovulatory menstrual cycles; normal duration of flow
21-35 days; 5 days (w/ most blood loss occurring within first 3 days)
Median age of menarche; typical range of cycle duration and duration of flow for such pts
12.43 y/o; 21-45 days and <7 days
Is it normal for cycle length to vary if cycles are ovulatory?
Yes, by a few days per month
At what point in reproductive lifespan does menstrual cycle vary more?
Approaching menopause
How are ovary and endometrium coordinated during an ovulatory cycle?
Selection/Ovulation of mature oocyte coordinated w/ process that results in growth/differentiation of endometrium
General steps of normal ovulatory cycle (4)
Follicle develops > ovulation > corpus luteum develops > luteolysis
Effect of normal ovulatory cycle on endometrium
Endometrium sequentially exposed to ovarian production of estrogen alone, followed by combo of estrogen and progesterone, then withdrawal of estrogen and progesterone at end of cycle
Steps of endometrial progression during normal ovulatory cycle (4)
Proliferation > secretory change > shedding > repair
Meds that could potentially impair coagulation process during repair of blood vessels at time of menstruation (3)
Warfarin, ASA, clopidogrel
Effect of absence of ovulation on endometrium
Corpus luteum does not develop and ovary fails to secrete progesterone, resulting in continual endometrial proliferation w/o progesterone-withdrawal-induced shedding and bleeding
Clinical result of absence of regular ovulation
Noncyclic, unpredictable bleeding of inconsistent volume
Description of endometrium that develops in milieu of unopposed estrogen
Fragile, vascular, lacking sufficient stromal support; as a result, one area of bleeding begins to heal while another area begins to slough, resulting in erratic bleeding patterns
Phases of reproductive lifespan associated w/ physiologic AUB-O (2)
Puberty, menopause
Why does puberty result in AUB-O?
Immature HPO axis does not develop the necessary hormonal feedback to result in ovulation and subsequent stable endometrium
Why does perimenopause result in AUB-O?
Progressive oocyte depletion and abnormal follicular development lead to anovulatory cycles
Physiologic causes of anovulation (4)
Adolescence, perimenopause, lactation, pregnancy
Pathologic causes of anovulation (8)
Hyperandrogenic anovulation (ie PCOS, CAH, androgen-producing tumors), hypothalamic dysfunction (ie 2/2 anorexia), hyperprolactinemia, thyroid disease, primary pituitary disease, POI, iatrogenic (ie 2/2 radiation/chemotx), meds
Menstrual sxs that pts w/ AUB-O typically do NOT experience (3)
Breast discomfort, increased mucoid vaginal discharge, premenstrual cramping
If cycles vary by more than this many days, they are likely anovulatory
> 10 days
What should be considered if medical tx fails to resolve bleeding though to be resulting from anovulation (2)?
Anatomic causes (including malignancy/hyperplasia), coagulopathy
Recommended assessment for AUB, thought to be AUB-O (6)
hCG for sexually active pts (even s/p TL); sensitive hCG testing (to exclude trophoblastic disease in pts who were recently pregnant); TSH (to exclude hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism); PRL (and, if elevated, repeated in fasting state); EMB (in pts w/ risk factors for hyperplasia/malignancy); SIS/hysteroscopy/TVUS (to r/o anatomic abnormality)
Most frequent cause of AUB-O in pts during first 12-18 months after menarche
Immaturity of HPO axis
Time s/p menarche at which cycles typically normalize
Third year s/p menarche (60-80% of cycle are 21-34 days long, regardless of age at menarche)
Which adolescent pts achieve regular ovulation sooner?
Pts w/ earlier menarche (since time after menarche to normalization of cycles is the same regardless of age at menarche)
Increasing contributor to anovulatory cycles among teens
Adolescent obesity
General risk for endometrial hyperplasia/malignancy among adolescent pts w/ AUB
Extremely low
Most common bleeding disorder in women
vWD
Percent risk of coagulopathy in adolescent pts who require hospitalization (w/ Hgb <10) or transfusion
20-30%
Conditions to r/o in initial workup of adolescent pt w/ AUB (3)
Pregnancy, sexual trauma, STIs
Physical signs/sxs to inquire about to r/o PCOS/hyperandrogenism (2)
Acne, hirsutism
Initial lab testing for adolescent pts w/ AUB (2)
hCG, CBC (and if plts are normal, consider further testing for coagulopathy when significant bleeding/anemia present)
Goals of tx for AUB in adolescent pts (4)
Halt AUB, prevent recurrence, avert morbidity, improve QoL
Adjuvant tx for pts w/ AUB and w/ evidence of IDA
PO iron tx (and if refractory, referred to heme for poss IV iron tx)
Signs/Sxs of PCOS (3)
Noncyclic bleeding, hyperandrogenic signs, characteristic ovarian appearance of US
Important comorbid condition for many pts w/ PCOS
Obesity