Reproductive pathologies Flashcards
What is menopause?
cessation of menses for 12 consecutive months
What is the physiology of menopause?
- •As ovarian follicles diminish with age, so too does the amount of oestrogen produced by granulosa cells
- •BecauseLH secretion isdependent on oestrogen levels, menopause is preceded by ~5 years of increasingly anovulatory cycles (referred to as the climacteric)
- •Eventually, menstruation ceases due to reduced number of follicles & reduced responsiveness to FSH
- •Average age for cessation of menses: 51 years
What are the clinical features of menopause?
Non-specific - hot flushes, hight sweat, fatigue, lethargy
reproductive: reduction fo breast size, vaginal dyspareunia, UTI
Neurological: changes mood and memory, headache, dizziness
Musculoskeletal: osteoporosis, arthralgia, myalgia
cardiovascular: HBP, AMI
what is the climacteric period?
period with irregular menses before complete cessation of menstruation
What are the advantages and disadvantages of hormone therapy?
ADVANTAGES
- •Relieves symptoms of menopause
- •Prevents early menopausal bone loss – reductionin #risk
DISADVANTAGES
- •‘Premenstrual-like’ symptoms e.g. bloating & fluid retention, breast tenderness, irritability
- •Increased risk for:
- •Thromboembolic disease
- •Cardiovascular disease: stroke
- •Cancer: breast, endometrial (oestrogen-only HT)
- •Gall bladder disease
What is Polycystic ovarian syndrome?
Inappropriate secretion of gonadotrophins
Diagnostic criteria
- menstrual irregularity
- clinical hyperandrogenism
- polycystic ovaries
What is the correlation between PCOS and Chronic disease?
Hyperinsulanemia
What is the pathophys behind PCOS?
- •Follicular growth is continuously stimulated, but not to full maturation
- •Hyperinsulinaemia suppresses normal follicular apoptosis – this permits the survival of follicles that would normally disintegrate
- •The net result is anovulation and enlargement of the ovaries with cyst formation
What are the clinical features of PCOS?
- •Menstrual disturbance: oligomenorrhoea, amenorrhoea
- •Infertility
- •Hyperandrogenism: acne, hirsutism, male pattern baldness
- •Obesity (38% of cases)
- •Asymptomatic (20% of cases)
- •Increased risk for: Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, endometrial cancer
Management of PCOS?
combined oral contraceptive
anti-androgen agents
Insulin sensitisers
What is Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)?
ANy infection in the genitourinary tract which was not treated.
WHat are the risk factors for PID?
Sexually active women
Inadequately treated chlamydia or gonorrhea
surgical procedure: IUD, Abortion, C-section
What are the clinical features for PID?
Low abdominal pain
irregular bleeding
mucopurulent discharge
What are the complications fro PID?
- infertility
- •Pelvic adhesions
- •Abscess formation
- •Ectopic pregnancy
- •Chronic pain
What is the management for PID?
antibiotics
Surgery
what is endometriosis?
deposits of endometrial tissue found anywhere except the uterine mucosa.
related to vicarious bleeding
Where are the posible sites for vicarious bleeding related to endometriosis?
Common:
- uterine tube
- uterus
- bowel
- bladder
- ureters
Post surgery: vagina, perineum
Rare: umbilicus, inguinal canal
very rare; pleura, diaphragm, nose
What are the 3 possible pathophys mechanisms for endometriosis?
Retrograde menstruation
embryonic cells
endometrial emboli
Clinical features related to endometriosis
•Pain: pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia
•Bleeding: menorrhagia, irregular periods, spotting
•Bowel or bladder symptoms: dysuria, dyschezia, ‘cyclical’ IBS symptoms
•Reduced fertility
•Systemic: fatigue, lethargy, depression
what is the management of endometriosis?
- Analgesia
- Suppression of ovulation e.g. COCP
- Laparoscopic ablation of ectopic tissue, adhesions
looks to restore fertility and reduce spread of tissue
What is a uterine fibroid (leiomyoma)?
A common, benign tumour arising from the smooth muscle cells of myometrium
What is the pathophys behind uterine fibroids?
- Myomas are usually spherical
- Some extend out on stalks (pedunculated)
- There may be multiple (in some cases up to 200!)
- The fibroid develops in the myometrium and can remain there
- Alternatively, it can protrude into the uterine cavity (submucosal fibroid) or out of the perimetrium (subserosal fibroid)
What are the clinical features of fibroids?
- •Bloating,
- palpable mass,
- protruding belly,
- sensation of abdominal heaviness
- •Dysmenorrhea or menorrhagia (can lead to iron deficiency anaemia)
- Pressure on surrounding organs
What are the complications of fibroids?
- Torsion: twisting on their stalks (pedicles)
- Ulceration & bleeding
- Small risk of malignant change (to uterine sarcoma)
What is the most common type of uterine cancer?
adenocarcinoma: •Develops from the secretory epithelium of the endometrium
What are the risk factors for uterine cancer?
Exposure to oestrogen
Obesity
family Hx
previous pelvic radiation for cancer
What are the clinical features for uterine cancer?
irregular vaginal bleeding
vaginal discharge: watery brown
lower abdominal pain
spread of tumour
What are the types of ovarian cancer?
epithelial type: arise from a germ cell type.
rarely primary tumour mostly arise from breast cancer.
What are the risk factors for ovarian cancer?
Age
family Hx
Oestrogen
What are the clinical features of ovarian cancer?
Pain or pressure on the back, abdomen and pelvis
abdominal bloating
indigestion/ nausea
urinary frequency and urgency
hormone-secreting tumour
What are the types of cervix cancer?
squamous cell carcinoma
What are the clinical features fro vaginal cancer?
Asymptomatic
vaginal discharge with a foul odour
abnormal bleeding
pelvic pain
symptoms of compression of bladder discomfort.
What are the possible spread sites if vaginal cancer is not detected?
- Direct spread: Through the uterine/vaginal walls to adjoining organs
- Lymphatic spread: To pelvic, inguinal, iliac and aortic nodes
- Blood spread: to the liver, lungs and bone
What is the management of vaginal cancer?
Early vaccination
HPV test - if positive do Pap smear