Repro 7 Flashcards
Trichomonas vaginalis
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the flagellated protozoan parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis. It primarily infects the urogenital tract.
Can increase risk of: cervical cancer, PID, pregnancy related complications
Trichomonas symptoms
- Often asymptomatic
- Urethral discharge and/or dysuria
- Profuse, frothy, yellow vaginal discharge, vulval irritation, dyspareunia
- pH >4.5
- On examination: strawberry cervix sign
Trichomonas investigations and management
- Ix: direct microscopy and culture
- Management: Oral Metronidazole, abstain from sex for one week or until treatment complete. Contact tracing
Examination of prolapse
- Height, weight, BMI
- Abdomino-pelvic examination: pelvic mass, vaginal atrophy
- Various classifications of prolapse
- Urodynamic studies if coexisting urinary symptoms
- Speculum examination
Urinary incontinence
- Any involuntary urinary leakage, under reported
- Stress urinary incontinence is more common then urgency urinary incontinence
- Investigations: urine dip/MSU, urodynamics, bladder diaries, QoL questionaires
- Risk factors: age, POH, menopause, hysterectomy, obesity, smoking, functional/cognitive impairment, neuro disease
Effects of urinary incontinence
- Psychological: depression, feelings of shame, loss of self confidence/self esteem
- Social isolation
- Sexual problems
- Loss of sleep from nocturia
- Constipation: limiting fluid intake
- Falls and fractures in the elderly
Classification of urinary incontinence
- Overactive bladder (OAB)/urge incontinence: due to detrusor overactivity, the urge to urinate is quickly followed by uncontrollable leakage ranging from a few drops to complete bladder emptying
- Stress incontinence: leaking small amounts when coughing or laughing. Weak pelvic floor
- Mixed incontinence: both urge and stress
- Overflow incontinence: due to bladder outlet obstruction, e.g. due to prostate enlargement. Chronic urinary retention, no feeling of needing to go
- Functional incontinence: comorbid physical conditions impair the patient’s ability to get to a bathroom in time, causes include dementia, sedating medication
Risk factors for incontinence
- Stress: childbirth, hysterectomy. Triggered by coughing or laughing
- Urge: recurrent UTI’s, high BMI, age, smoking, caffeine
- Overflow: constipation, neurological conditions
- Functiomal alcohol, medication
Investigations for incontinence
- Physical exam: speculum and bimanual
- Questionnaire: about modifiable lifestyle i.e. caffeine and alcohol
- Bladder diary
- Urine dip
- Cytometry: measure bladder pressure, not needed if history is clear
- Cystogram: if fistula suspected
- Urodynamic testing, post void residual bladder volume
Management- urge incontinence
- Bladder retraining (lasts for a minimum of 6 weeks, the idea is to gradually increase the intervals between voiding). Pelvic floor exercises as well
- Bladder stabilising drugs: antimuscarinics are first-line. Oxybutynin , tolterodine. Caution with elderly due to delirium
- Mirabegron (a beta-3 agonist) if concern about anticholinergic side-effects in frail elderly patients
- Botulinum toxin A in the bladder wall
- Sacral nerve stimulation
- Augmentation cystoplasty
- Urinary diversion
Management: stress incontinence
- Pelvic floor muscle training: at least 8 contractions performed 3 times per day for a minimum of 3 months
- Conservative: weight loss, avoid caffeine, diuretics. Dont restrict fluid
- Surgical procedures: Mid urthral slings are the gold standard
- Duloxetine; offered to women if they decline surgical procedures. A combined noradrenaline and serotonin reuptake inhibitor
- Intramural bulking agents
- Colposuspension and fascial slings
Uro-genital prolapse risk factors
- Age, Parity
- Menopause
- High BMI
- Previous pelvic surgery
- Heavy lifting and manual work
- Smoking, chronic cough
- Genetic predisposition
- Connective tissue disease (e.g. Marfan, Ehlers-Danlos)
Braden walker system: Uro-genital prolapse
- Grade 0: normal
- Grade 1: descent halfway to hymen
- Grade 2: descent to hymen
- Grade 3: descent halfway past the hymen
- Grade 4: maximum possible desecent/procidentia
Types of prolapse
- Cystocele: bladder
- Urethrocele: urethra
- Enterocele: small intestine
- Rectocele: rectum
- Vaginal vault: roof of the vagina
Symptoms of prolapse
- Pelvic discomfort or a sensation of ‘heaviness’
- Visible protrusion of tissue from the vagina
- Urinary symptoms such as incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections or difficulties voiding
- Defecatory symptoms, includingconstipationor incomplete bowel emptying
- Sexual dysfunction, including dyspareunia
Management of uterovaginal prolapse
- Address lifestyle factors: weight loss, smoking cessation
- Physiotherapy: pelvic floor exercises
- Pessaries
Surgery for prolapse
- cystocele/cystourethrocele: anterior colporrhaphy, colposuspension
- uterine prolapse: hysterectomy, sacrohysteropexy with mesh
- rectocele: posterior colporrhaphy
UTI features
- dysuria
- urinary frequency
- urinary urgency
- cloudy/offensive smelling urine
- lower abdominal pain
- fever: typically low-grade in lower UTI
- malaise
- Infection of the bladder, main cause E.coli
UTI treatment not pregnant
- Trimethoprim (first line) or nitrofurantoin for 3 days
- send a urine culture if: aged > 65 years, visible or non-visible haematuria
UTI treatment pregnant women
- Symptomatic: a urine culture should be sent in all cases, should be treated with an antibiotic for first-line: nitrofurantoin (should be avoided near term), second-line: amoxicillin or cefalexin. Avoid Trimethoprim
- Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women: a urine culture should be performed routinely at the first antenatal visit. An immediate antibiotic prescription of either nitrofurantoin (should be avoided near term), amoxicillin or cefalexin. 7-day course. A further urine culture should be sent following completion of treatment as a test of cure