Sexual Health Flashcards
What are the common causes of vaginal discharge?
Phsyiological Candida Trichomonas vaginalis bacterial vaginosis gonorrhoea chlamydia (although this is rarely the presenting symptom) cervical ectropion foreign body cancer
Patient presents with vaginal discharge which she describes as resembling cottage cheese, and also has painful, itchy vulva. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Candida infection
Patient presents with offensive yellow/green frothy vaginal discharge, vulvovaginitis and a strawberry cervix. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Trichomonas vaginalis
Patient presents with offensive, fishy, grey/white, thin, watery vaginal discharge. Vaginal pH is >4.5 (raised). What is the most likely diagnosis?
Bacterial vaginosis
What are the typical presenting features of pelvic inflammatory disease?
pelvic pain fever deep dyspareunia vaginal discharge (dysuria) (menstrual irregularities) cervical excitation may be seen on examination
What comprises the normal vaginal flora?
Lactobacillus - predominates “healthy” vangina
Others may include strep viridans, group B beta-haemolytic strep, candida (small numbers)
What is the role of Lactobacillus in the vagina?
Produces lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide to suppress the growth of other bacteria
What are the non-sexually transmitted genital tract infections?
Candida infection (vaginal thrush - most cases caused by C.albicans)
Bacterial vaginosis
Prostatitis
What are the predisposing factors for candida infection?
- Recent antibiotic therapy
- High oestrogen levels (pregnancy, certain contraceptives)
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- immunocompromised patients
How is candida infection diagnosed?
Most cases are clinical diagnosis
High vaginal swab for culture
How is Candida infection treated?
Topical clotrimazole - pessary or cream
Oral fluconazole
How does C.albicans look on Gram film?
Yeasts with budding and hyphae
What organisms are involved in bacterial vaginosis?
Gardnerella vaginalis
Mobiluncus
anaerobes
How is Bacterial vaginosis diagnosed?
Most cases are clinical diagnosis
Can measure vaginal pH (will be raised - >4.5)
High vaginal swab can be examined for presence of CLUE CELLS - Hay-Ison scoring system us used to estimate proportion of clue cells (highly subjective and inaccurate)
How is bacterial vaginosis treated?
Metronidazole
When looking at microscopy of a high vaginal swab sample taken from a patient, you see clue cells. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Bacterial vaginosis
Male patient presents with urinary frequency, urgency and dysuria. He also pain in his lower back and abdomen, and penis. You perform a PR exam and his prostate is tender. What is the likely diagnosis?
Acute bacterial prostatitis
What organisms can cause acute bacterial prostatitis?
same as UTI - cloakrooms (e.g. E.coli), enterococcus
In patients
How is acute bacterial prostatitis diagnosed?
clinical signs + MSSU for culture and sensitivities
+ first pass urine if testing for chlamydia/gonorrhoea