Sexual Health Flashcards
What is Bacterial Vaginosis and what are its features?
Overgrowth of predominately anaerobic organisms such as Gardnerella vaginalis. This leads to a consequent fall in lactic acid-producing aerobic lactobacilli resulting in a raised vaginal pH.
Features
- Vaginal discharge: ‘fishy’, offensive
- Asymptomatic in 50%
What are the criteria used for Bacterial Vaginosis?
Amsel’s criteria (3/4)
- Thin, white homogenous discharge
- Clue cells on microscopy: stippled vaginal epithelial cells
- Vaginal pH > 4.5
- Positive whiff test (addition of potassium hydroxide results in fishy odour)
What is the management for Bacterial Vaginosis?
Symptomatic
- Oral metronidazole for 5-7 days
- Single oral metronidazole 2g if poor adherence
- Topical metronidazole or topical clindamycin as alternatives
- If pregnant, no stat dose, 5-7 days oral or topical
What is Gonorrhoea and what are its features?
Caused by the Gram-negative diplococcus Neisseria gonorrhoea.
Acute infection can occur on any mucous membrane surface, typically the genitourinary, rectum, and pharynx. The incubation period of gonorrhoea is 2-5 days
Features
- Males: urethral discharge, dysuria
- Females: cervicitis e.g. leading to vaginal discharge
- Rectal and pharyngeal infection is usually asymptomatic
What is the management for Gonorrhoea?
First-line treatment is a single dose of IM ceftriaxone 1g
If sensitivities are known (and the organism is sensitive to ciprofloxacin) then a single dose of oral ciprofloxacin 500mg should be given
If ceftriaxone is refused (e.g. needle-phobic) then oral cefixime 400mg (single dose) + oral azithromycin 2g (single dose) should be used
What is Trichomonas vaginalis and what are its features?
Trichomonas vaginalis is a highly motile, flagellated protozoan parasite. Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Features
- Vaginal discharge: offensive, yellow/green, frothy
- Vulvovaginitis
- Strawberry cervix
- pH > 4.5
Men (usually asymptomatic but may cause urethritis)
Investigation
microscopy of a wet mount shows motile trophozoites
What is the management of Trichomonas vaginalis?
Oral metronidazole for 5-7 days
One-off dose of 2g metronidazole
What is Vaginal candidiasis and what are its features?
80% of cases of Candida albicans
20% other candida species.
Features
- ‘cottage cheese’, non-offensive discharge
- Vulvitis: superficial dyspareunia,
- Dysuria
- Itch
- Vulval erythema, fissuring, and satellite lesions may be seen
What is the management of Vaginal candidiasis?
First Line: Oral fluconazole 150 mg single dose
Clotrimazole 500 mg intravaginal pessary single dose if oral contraindicated
Vulval symptoms,
- topical imidazole
Pregnant
- Only local treatments (e.g. cream or pessaries) may be used
- Oral treatments are contraindicated
Recurrent vaginal candidiasis (4+ per year)
- Check compliance
- Confirm by high vaginal swab for microscopy and culture
- Consider a blood glucose test to exclude diabetes
- Exclude differential diagnoses such as lichen sclerosus
- Consider the use of an induction-maintenance regime
- Induction: oral fluconazole every 3 days for 3 doses
- Maintenance: oral fluconazole weekly for 6 months
What is the management for erectile dysfunction?
PDE-5 inhibitors (sildenafil)
Vacuum erection devices are recommended for patients who can’t/won’t take a PDE-5 inhibitor.
What are contraindications and side effects of Sildenafil?
Contraindications
- Pat`ients taking nitrates and related drugs such as nicorandil
- Hypotension
- Recent stroke or myocardial infarction (NICE recommend waiting 6 months)
Side-effects
- Visual disturbances
- Blue discolouration
- Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic
- Neuropathy
- Nasal congestion
- Flushing
- Gastrointestinal side-effects
- Headache
- Priapism
What is Chancroid?
Tropical disease caused by Haemophilus ducreyi.
Painful genital ulcers, sharply defined, ragged, undermined border
Unilateral, painful inguinal lymph node enlargement
What is the management for Chancroid?
Azithromycin: 1 gram orally single dose
Ceftriaxone: 250 milligrams (IM) single dose
Erythromycin: 500 milligrams orally TDS for 7 days
Ciprofloxacin: 500 milligrams orally BD for 3 days
What are genital warts and what are their features?
Caused by human papillomavirus HPV, especially types 6 & 11.
Features
- Small (2 - 5 mm) fleshy protuberances which are slightly pigmented
- May bleed or itch
What is the management of genital warts?
First Line:
- Topical podophyllum (multiple warts) or cryotherapy (solitary wart)
Second Line:
- Imiquimod (Topical Cream)
What is genital herpes and what are its features?
Caused by HSV1 and HSV2
Features
- Painful genital ulceration
- May be associated with dysuria and pruritus
- Headache, fever, malaise
- Tender inguinal lymphadenopathy
- Urinary retention may occur
Primary infections are often more severe than recurrent episodes