S4) Menstrual Disorders Flashcards
Identify 7 common menstrual disorders
- Amenorrhoea
- Oligomenorrhoea
- Menorrhagia
- Dysmenorrhoea
- Intermenstrual bleeding (IMB)
- Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
What is amenorrhea ?
Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation
Distinguish between primary and secondary amenorrhea
- Primary amenorrhoea: failure to establish menstruation by 16 years
- Secondary amenorrhoea: cessation of previously normal menstruation for ≥ 6 months
Identify some physiological causes of amenorrhea
- Prepubertal
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
How can pathology be determined in amenorrhea?
- Pathology occurs at the various levels of endocrine control
- Gonadotrophin levels indicate the level of the pathology
Identify the different types of pathology in amenorrhea
- Hypothalamic
- Pituitary
- Ovarian
- Uterine/endometrial
What is oligomenorrhea?
Oligomenorrhoea is infrequent menstruation >35 days i.e. 4-9x per year
What is menorrhagia/heavy menstrual bleeding?
Menorrhagia/HMB is a complaint of excessive menstrual blood loss over consecutive cycles or >80 mls per menstruation
Identify 6 common causes for menorrhagia
- Leiomyoma (uterine fibroids)
- Uterine polyps
- Endometrial cancer
- Bleeding diathesis
- Copper from IUD coil
- Drugs e.g. warfarin
What is dysmenorrhea?
Dysmenorrhoea is pain during menses, associated with ovulatory cycles
Distinguish between primary and secondary dysmenorrhea
- Primary dysmenorrhea is idiopathic, due to response of the uterus to local prostaglandins, hence painful contractions
- Secondary dysmenorrhea can be due to endometriosis or obstructed menses
What is dysfunctional uterine bleeding?
DUB is heavy and irregular menstrual bleeding that occurs secondary to an ovulation
What is premenstrual syndrome?
- PMS is a cyclical disorder, occurring in latter half of the menstrual cycle
- Symptoms could be physical or psychological and resolve with onset of menstruation
What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder?
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is the severe end of the spectrum of PMS with extreme mood symptoms
Outline the Female HPO axis