reproductive Flashcards
what causes inflammation of the reproductive organs?
- irritants, mostly infection
- sexually transmitted infections
- systemic diseases (mumps, scarlet fever)
where does infection and inflammation occur in the reproductive system?
it can occur anywhere
- most signs & symptoms are as result as infections that result in inflammation
- can be acute or chronic
where are females affected?
- external genitalia
- vagina
- uterus
- fallopian tubes
- ovaries
- breasts
where are men affected?
- the glans urethra testes epididymis prostate gland
what might inflammation of the external genitalia be due to?
- direct contact with irritants such as:
- perfumed soap or sprays
- spermatocides
- allergen such as latex
what are some LOCAL signs and symptoms of infection?
- swelling, redness, burning, pain
- increased discharge - different looking
- foul smell
what are some SYSTEMIC signs and symptoms?
- fever, chills, malaise
- leukocytosis associated with inflammation and infectious process
what are chronic infections and inflammation associated with?
- scarring and formation of adhesions in various structures of the reproduct tract
- common cause of infertility
what is vulvitis?
- inflammatory process of the external female genitalia.
- associated with contact with irritants
what is endometritis?
- inflammation of the lining of the uterus
- lining is relatively resistant to infection because of the endocervix acting as a barrier against infectious agents
- acute infection can still occur with abortion or normal delivery, use of instrumentation (when opening lady bits, this can introduce pathogens)
- chronic endometritis is associated with use of intrauterine devices such as birth control measures or pelvic inflame disease
signs and symptoms of chronic endometritis?
- abnormal bleeding
- mild to moderate tenderness
- malaise
- fever
- foul smelling discharge
what are two common agents that cause infection besides bacteria and viruses?
Yeast- Candida Albicans
Parasite- Trichomas (is sexually transmitted)
characteristics of Vaginitis-Candida Albicans?
- thick, cheesy-like growth that is found on the cervix and on the vagina walls
- often associated with itching with thicc discharge
what type of ppl are at risk for Vaginitis Candida Albicans?
- ppl who take antibiotics that affect normal flora of the vagina
- diabeties
- women taking birth control pills
what are the characteristics of Vaginitis- Trichomonas?
- sexually transmitted disease due to parasite
- very thick, white vaginal discharge
what is salpingitis?
- inflammation/infecc of the fallopian tubes
- associated with pelvic inflam disease
causative agents of salpingitis?
- gonorrhea and chlamydia
- often end up with adhesions and scarring of fallopian tubes, which is one cause of infertility
what is mastitis?
- infec/inflam of breast tissue
- associated with breast feeding
what is mastitis caused by?
- caused by straphlyococcus or streptococcus
- can also be caused by Candida Albicans
characteristics of mastitis?
- ascending infection
- starts from nipple and moves into structures of the breast
- often infection will have a wedge-shape appearance and involves only one quadrant of the breast
how can mastitis be transmitted?
-transmitted from mothers hands if not washed before handling breasts
-transmitted from baby- mouth may contain candida or strep or straph as baby sucks on breast
-pathogens enter cracks in nipples at time of feeding
-
what other situations can mastitis occur?
- outside of breastfeeding:
- related to fluctuations in hormones in adolescents
- might also occur with trauma or localized tumor
what is pelvic inflammatory disease?
- female only
- acute inflammation of any organ or upper reproductive tract
- most common and most serious consequences of STI gonorrhea and chlamydia.
- can lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy, painful intercourse
what structures are involved in pelvic inflammatory disease?
- uterus
- fallopian tubes
- ovaries
- peritoneum
risk factors for pelvic inflammatory disease?
- age 16-24
- having multiple sexual partners
- previous history of even one pelvic inflammatory disease
manifestations of pelvic inflammatory disease?
- vary
- can present with no symptoms
- or have severe, dull, steady abdominal pain (worse when walking or have sex)
- can be associated w high fever, dysuria, irregular bleeding
what does severity of symptoms and infection of pelvic inflammatory disease depend on?
- depends on:
- the virulence of pathogen that is present
- how much the pathogen is the pt exposed to
- pts immune status
- if pt is any way immunocompromised, will tend to be more severe
what do Gonorrhea and Chlamydia cause?
- cause necrosis of the tissue of the reproductive tract
- why pt to has had PID before is vulnerable to recurrent instances
after even one episode, 15-25% of women will develop long term consequences:
-interfertility ectopic preggo (baby develops in fallopian tube) pain w sex may develop adhesions or abscesses of the fallopian tubes or ovaries -very very few cases cause septic shock and death
complications of PID?
- adhesions can develop between structures of reproductive system and can lead to obstruction
- fallopian tubes and ovaries can becomes distorted and affected by long-term complications of PID
what is urethritis (male)
- inflam/infec of the urethra
- associated w several STI’s
what is balanitis? (male)
- infect/inflam of the glands itself
- acute or chronic
- associated with candida infec
- being diabetic predisposes male to this type of infec
what is epididymo-orchitis? (male)
inflammation of the epididymis
- associated with non-sexual issues or related to UTI’s
- main pathogen is E.coli
- can be due to other pathogens that travel via bloodstream can infec the man bits
- sexually transmitted pathogens include gonorrhea and chlamydia
signs and symptoms of epididymitis?
include unilateral pain and swelling
edema of scrotum
tenderness in groin
what is inflammation of the orchitis?
inflammation of the testes
- common complication of systemic infec or acending infec of reproductive tract
- and be due to UTI’s, systemic infec, or STI’s
- in other words, epididymis can be infected or urinary tract could be infected and eventually microorganisms find their way to testes
- mumps is common cause (pathogen that causes mumps reaches tests via bloodstream or lymph
what is prostatitis?
- inflammation of the prostate gland
- due to acute ascending urethral infec or due to reflux urine
- E.coli & pseudomonas are causative agents
signs and symptoms of prostatitis?
-chills, fever, dull achy pain
-cloudy urine
-urgency
frequency
signs and symptoms or UTI
-low back pain and myalgia
what is common with post-pubertal males?
-mumps
signs and symptoms of orchitis?
-sudden set of really severe fever marked by exhaustion and unilateral swelling of the scrotum
-leukocytosis
-signs and symptoms usually manifest themselves 3-4 days after mumps infecc
-
complications of orchitis?
- atrophy of testes
- decreased spermatogenesis = infertility
- this is especially so if there is bilateral orchitis
- does affect production of testosterone, so secondary sex characteristics still occur
