Reproduction & Gynaecology Flashcards
Define primary amenorrhoea
Failure to have a period before age of 16
List aetiology/risk factors for primary amenorrhoea
Delayed puberty
Familial
Turner syndrome
Testicular feminisation
Define secondary amenorrhoea
Not had a period in 6 months in someone who previously has had a period
List aetiology/risk factors for secondary amenorrhoea
HPO axis dysfunction (emotions, stress, weight loss/anorexia, high prolactin, pituitary tumour, Sheehan syndrome) Polycystic ovarian syndrome Ovarian tumours Ovarian failure Asherman syndrome (uterine adhesions following D+C)
What investigations would you do for secondary amenorrhoea?
FSH (raised in premature ovarian failure) LH, testosterone (raised in PCOS) Prolactin Thyroid function MRI pituitary
Outline management of secondary amenorrhoea
Treat cause
GnRH injections
HRT
In vitro fertilisation/oocyte donation if wanting pregnancy
What is menorrhagia?
Increased menstrual blood loss (over 80ml per cycle) with prolonged menstrual flow
List local aetiology/risk factors for menorrhagia
Anovulatory disorder Adenomyosis Polyps/fibroids Malignancy Pelvic inflammation Endometriosis Intrauterine contraception Trauma
List systemic aetiology/risk factors for menorrhagia
Hypothyroidism Diabetes Blood dyscrasia (vWD) Anticoagulants Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
What investigations would you do for menorrhagia?
FBC Thyroid function Clotting studies Renal and liver function Transvaginal USS +/- endometrial biopsy (pipelle, hysteroscopy, D+C)
Outline management of menorrhagia
IUS 1st line if wanting contraception/no pregnancy
Antifibrinolytic (tranexamic acid)
Antiprostaglandin (mefenamic acid)
IM progestogen (northisterone)
Surgery (endometrial ablation, uterine artery ablation, hysterectomy)
What is dysmenorrhoea?
Painful periods with/without nausea or vomiting
Describe “primary” dysmenorrhoea
Painful periods in absence of organ pathology, often associated with anovulation
Occurs earlier in life
Crampy, back/groin ache, worse on days 1-3
Describe “secondary” dysmenorrhoea
Painful periods with associated pathology (fibroids, adenomyosis, endometriosis, PID, sepsis)
More constant pain, pain during sex
List aetiology/risk factors for intermenstrual bleeding
Cervical polyps Ectropion Carcinoma (endometrial, cervical) Vaginitis IUD "spotting" from hormonal contraception Pregnancy
List aetiology/risk factors for post-coital bleeding
Cervical trauma Polyps Carcinoma (endometrial, cervical, vaginal) Cervicitis, vaginitis Chlamydia
List aetiology/risk factors for post-menopausal bleeding
Endometrial carcinoma Vaginitis Foreign bodies (pessaries) Cervical/vulval carcinoma Polyps Oestrogen withdrawal
What is the most common ovulatory disorder?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
List clinical features of PCOS
Acne Male-pattern baldness Hirsutism Acanthosis nigricans Infertility Insulin resistance Central obesity Amenorrhoea
What is the Rotterdam criteria for diagnosing PCOS?
2 of
Menstrual disturbance
12+ 9mm cysts on USS
Hyperandrogenism
What would hormone levels be like in PCOS?
Raised LH:FSH ratio
Raised testosterone
May have raised prolactin
Outline management of PCOS
Smoking cessation, weight loss
Treat diabetes/hypertension/hyperlipidemia
Metformin if insulin resistant esp if BMI over 25
Check for rubella immunity
Ovulation induction if wanting to conceive (clomifene, tamoxifen, gonadotropin injfections, laparoscopic ovarian drilling)
What is premenstrual syndrome?
Premenstrual change in mood or physical state
List clinical features of premenstrual syndrome
Tension, irritability Depression Bloating Breast tenderness Carb craving Headache Reduced libido
Outline management of premenstrual syndrome
Support, psych counselling/CBT, family therapy
Stress and relaxation techniques
Pyridoxine may improve mood
COCP
Fluoxetine
If cyclical mastalgia: reduce saturated fats, bromocriptine, danazol
What is menopause?
Cessation of menstrual periods following climacteric period (1 year of amenorrhoea)
Define premature, early and late menopause
Premature: before age of 40
Early: before age of 45
Late: after age of 54
List clinical features of menopause
Menstrual irregularity Sweats, hot flushes Palpitations Insomnia Joint ache Vaginal dryness Low libido Mood swings Anxiety Bleeding Late symptoms (frequency, dry hair/skin, breast atrophy, osteoporosis)
What would you find on investigations for menopause?
Low oestrogen
High FSH and LH
Outline conservative management of menopause and medications used for menorrhagia
Reduce caffeine, weight loss Wear lighter clothes Oestrogen if vaginal dryness Mefenamic acid to reduce uterine blood flow Tranexamic acid to reduce clots Progesterone injections IUS if wanting contraception Endometrial ablation Hysterectomy
Outline HRT management for menopause
Cyclical if perimenopausal, continuous if postmenopausal
Oestrogen-only if had hysterectomy, otherwise combined oestrogen-progesterone
Start if greater than 1 year since last menstrual period
List contraindications to HRT
Oestrogen-dependent cancer Undiagnosed PV bleeding Abnormal LFT's Pregnancy Breastfeeding Phlebitis History of PE
List side effects of HRT
Weight gain Premenstrual syndrome VTE Breast cancer Ovarian cancer Gallbladder disease Increased risk of CV event after 10 years
What is the typical gestation cut-off for termination of pregnancy?
24 weeks
State the criteria of the Abortion Act, A-F, for termination of pregnancy
A: risk to mother’s life if pregnancy continues
B: termination necessary to prevent grave injury to health of the woman
C: continuance risks injury to health of woman, foetus is less than 24w
D: continuance risks injury to health of existing children, foetus is less than 24w
E: risk of child being seriously handicapped or suffer physical/mental abnormality
F: emergency termination necessary to prevent grave injury
What investigations would you do for termination of pregnancy?
Counselling to make sure of patient's decision Pregnancy test USS, fundal height Screen for STI (Chlamydia) Discuss future contraception Check rhesus status
Outline medical management of termination of pregnancy
Oral mifepristone (disimplant foetus) + PV misoprostol (expulsion) 48h later Misoprostol may be done at home if early termination If late, give misoprostol every 3h up to maximum of 5 in 24h
Outline surgical management of termination of pregnancy
If 6-12w Vacuum aspiration D&C Prime with misoprostol Warn about future risk of miscarriage, failure, haemorrhage, infection, uterine rupture/perforation
Describe the different types of miscarriage
Threatened: bleeding, no product, closed os, continued pregnancy
Inevitable: bleeding, visible products, open os
Complete: bleed, product in vagina, closed os
Missed: pregnancy in-situ but no foetal heartbeat
List aetiology/risk factors for miscarriage
PCOS Low progesterone Bacterial vaginosis Familial Abnormal uterus Antiphospholipid syndrome Thrombophilia Alloimmunity
What investigations would you do for miscarriage?
US scan
Speculum/PV exam
FBC, BHCG levels
Outline management of miscarriage
Emotional support
Treat haemodynamic compromise
Largely conservative
Misoprostol may be used to expel products
What is ectopic pregnancy?
Implantation occurs outwith uterus, usually in ampulla of fallopian tube
List aetiology/risk factors for ectopic pregnancy
Salpingitis Previous surgery Previous ectopic Endometriosis Old IUCD POP use
List clinical features of ectopic pregnancy
Abdo pain Bleeding Peritonism Shoulder tip pain Fainting Pallor Nausea, vomiting
What investigations would you do for ectopic pregnancy?
FBC, U+E, glucose
BHCG levels (double after 48h)
US scan
Outline management of ectopic pregnancy
Laparotomy if in shock/unstable, otherwise laporoscopy
+/- salpingectomy
Methotrexate for small early ectopic with low BHCG
Expectant management
What happens in gestational trophoblastic disease?
Non-viable trophoblastic tissue forms from fertilised ovum i.e. no foetus
Usually genetically paternal but has 46XX karyotype
What are “complete” and “partial” hydatidiform moles?
Complete: egg without DNA fertilised, no foetus results
Partial: haploid egg fertilised, triploidy, may have foetus
List aetiology/risk factors for hydatidiform mole
Extremes of child-bearing age
Previous mole
Non-Caucasians
List clinical features of hydatidiform mole
Early miscarriage Pass "grape-like" clusters Hyperemesis Bleeding Dyspnoea
What would investigations show in hydatidiform mole?
USS snowstorm appearance
Appears large for dates
Increased bHCG
Outline management of hydatidiform mole
Suction removal
Avoid pregnancy for 1 year
Monitor bHCG
What is chorionic haematoma?
Pooling of blood between endometrium and embyro
When is a couple infertility defined as being infertile?
Inability to achieve pregnancy after 12 hours of UPSI
List aetiology/risk factors for infertility
Male: low quality sperm, varicocele, obstruction
Female: anovulation, tubal damage/failure of egg and sperm to meet, endometriosis
Altered mood
Infections
Poor sexual technique
Infrequent UPSI
What investigations would you do for infertility?
Examine both genitalia, abdomen, pelvis Mestrual and sexual history Rubella check, STI screen Hormone levels (mid-luteal progesterone, day 5 FSH/LH, thyroid, prolactin) MRI pituitary Hysterosalpingogram Semen analysis
Outline management of infertility
Lifestyle: intercourse 2-3x/w, stop smoking, reduce alcohol, BMI less than 30
Treat hormonal causes
Assisted fertilisation
List the main assisted fertilisation techniques used for infertilitiy
Donor sperm insemination ICSI (inject sperm into egg) Sperm aspirate + ICSI IUI (inseminate uterus) IVF
List some side effects of IVF
Multiple birth Pre-eclampsia Pregnancy-induced hypertension Genetic defects Low birthweight Prematurity Perinatal mortality
List aetiology/risk factors for male infertility
Idiopathic oligo/azoospermia Teratozoospermia Non-obstructive (cryptorchidism, radiation, tumour, cannabis, Klinefelter's) Obstructive (CF, infection, vasectomy) Pituitary tumour Steroid use Cushing's syndrome Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Androgen insensitivity
List clinical features of male infertility
Reduced testicular volume (less than 15ml) Loss of secondary sexual characteristics Gynaecomastia Scrotal swelling Prostatitis
What would you analyse/look for from normal semen for male infertility?
Volume (norm over 2ml) Count (over 20 million per ml) Greater than 50% motility Greater than 30% normal morphology Examine 2 specimens preferably 3 months apart, transferred fresh and avoiding temp less than 15 or greater than 38
What investigations other than semen analysis would you do for male infertility?
Plasma FSH to distinguish from 1’ and 2’ testicular failure
Testosterone, LH levels
Testicular biopsy
Scrotal scan
Outline management of male infertility
Avoid lubricants, tight pants, hot baths/saunas IUI (25% successful) ICSI (30% successful) Sperm aspirate (up to 95% successful) Donor sperm
List some natural methods of contraception/estimating fertility
Fertile 6 days prior to and 2 days after ovulation
Cervical mucus clear + sticky when fertile, dry at ovulation, thick when non-fertile
Basal body temp rises by 0.3’C after ovulation
Hormone levels (day 21 progesterone)
High soft open cervix when fertile, low firm closed cervix when infertile
Breastfeeding (exclusively, less than 6/12 postnatal, amenorrhoeic)
List the main long-acting contraception methods used
Depo injection
Implant
IUD, IUS
Sterilisation
How does the Depo injection work?
Releases synthetic progesterone
Inhibits ovulation, thickens cervical mucus, thins endometrium
Injected every 12 weeks
When should the Depo injection be started?
Start day 1-5 of cycle
Beyond day 5, use condoms for 7 days prior to start
List some contraindications of Depo injection
Pregnancy
Undiagnosed PV bleed
Liver disease
Cardiac disease
List side effects of Depo injection
Increased appetite and weight
Delayed return to fertility
Osteoporosis
Irregular bleeding
How does the implant work?
Subdermal rod contains progesterone
Inhibits ovulation, thickens cervical mucus, thins endometrium
Surgically inserted 8mm above medial epicondyle of elbow
Lasts up to 3 years
When should the implant be started?
Start day 1-5
On or before day 21 if post-partum
Beyond day 5, use condoms for 7 days prior
List some contraindications to the implant
Heart disease/stroke
Unexplained PV bleeding
Past breast cancer
Liver disease (cirrhosis, cancer)
List side effects of the implant
Irregular, heavy periods
Weight gain
Acne
How does the IUD work?
Intrauterine copper coil toxic to sperm
Prevents fertilisation, creases endometrial inflammation
Lasts 5-10 years
When should the IUD be started?
Start day 1-7
Beyond day 7, start as long as certain not pregnant
List some contraindications to the IUD and IUS
Pelvic infection
Abnormal uterine anatomy
Molar pregnancy
Cancer/undiagnosed PV bleed
List side effects of the IUD
Heavy periods Pain Discomfort on insertion Expulsion Perforation STI
How does the IUS work?
T-shaped intrauterine device
Releases progesterone,
Inhibits ovulation, thickens cervical mucus, thins endometrium
Lasts 3-5 years