Sexual Health Flashcards
What organs of the female reproductive system lie in the pelvic cavity?
Ovaries
Uterine tubes
Uterus
Superior part of the vagina
What organs of the female reproductive system lie in the perineum?
Inferior part of the vagina Perineal muscles Bartholin's glands Clitoris Labia
What is the most inferior part of the peritoneal cavity? What implications does this have?
Pouch of Douglas:
- Excess fluid tends to collect here
- Can be drained via a needle through the posterior fornix of the vagina
What is the broad ligament?
Double layer of peritoneum
Where does the broad ligament extend between?
Uterus and pelvis (lateral walls and floor)
What is the function of the broad ligament?
Keeps uterus in midline
What is contained within the broad ligament?
Uterine tubes
Proximal part of the round ligament
What is the round ligament?
An embryological remnant
Where does the round ligament attach?
Lateral aspects of the uterus
Through what does the round ligament pass and attach to?
Deep inguinal ring to attach to superficial perineal tissue
What are the 3 layers of support for the uterus?
Strong ligaments (eg. Uterosacral) Endopelvic fascia Muscles of pelvis floow
What can weakness in the 3 layers of uterine support result in?
Prolapse
What is the most common position of the uterus?
Anterverted:
- Cervix tipped anteriorly relative to vaginal axis
AND
Anteflexed:
- Uterus tipped anteriorly relative to cervical axis
- Mass of uterus lies over bladder
What is a normal variation in the uterine position?
Retroverted:
- Uterus tipped posteriorly relative to vaginal axis
AND
Retroflexed:
- Uterus tipped posteriorly relative to cervical axis
Why is a speculum needed for cervical examination?
Walls of vagina usually collapsed
What does radiopaque dye spilling out into the peritoneal cavity on a hysterosalpinogram indicate?
Patency of uterine tubes
Where do ovaries develop?
On posterior abdominal wall
The cervix holds apart the walls of the vagina at the superior part, what does this form?
A space around the cervix, known as a fornix
What are the four parts of the fornix?
Anterior
Posterior
2 lateral
How can the position of the uterus be palpated?
Bimanually
How can adnexae be palpated?
Place examining fingers into lateral fornix
Press deeply with other hand into ipsilateral iliac fossa
Repeat on oppsite
What are the adnexae?
Uterine tubes
Ovaries
What can adnexae examination detect?
Large masses
Tenderness
What forms the urogenital triangle?
Pubic symphysis (anteriorly) Ischial spines (laterally): - A line between them completes the triangle
What forms the anal triangle
Coccyx (posteriorly)
Ischial spines (laterally):
- A line between them completes the triangle
What is the perineum?
Shallow space between pelvic diaphragm and skin
What type of muscle is the levator ani?
Skeletal
What forms most of the pelvic diaphragm?
Levator ani
What is the function of the levator ani?
Supports pelvic organs:
- Tonic contraction
- Contracts more when intra-abdo. pressure rises
What nerve supplies the levator ani?
Nerve to levator ani:
- S3, S4 and S5 sacral plexus
What nerve are the superficial and deep perineal muscles supplied by?
Pudendal nerve (S2, S3 and S4)
What is the perineal body?
Bundle of collagenous and elastic tissue into which the perineal muscles attach
What is the perineal body important to?
Pelvic floor strength
What can damage the perineal body?
Labour
Where is the perineal body located?
Just deep to skin
What are the Bartholin’s glands?
Glands which secrete mucous to lubricate the vagina
Where are Bartholin’s glands located?
Slightly posterolateral to the left and right of the vaginal opening
What is the other name for Bartholin’s glands?
Greater vestibular glands
Where does the bed of the breast extend from?
Ribs 2-6
Lateral border of sternum to mid-axillary line
What does the female breast line on?
Deep fascia covering:
- Pec. major
- Serratus anterior
What is the pace between the fascia and the breast?
Retromammory space
How is the breast attached to the skin?
Suspensory ligaments
How can we assess if a breast lump is fixed to any underlying tissue?
Ask patient to put hands on hips (contracts pectoralis major)
Assess all four quadrants as well as:
- Axilla
- Supraclavicular area
Where does most of the lymph from the female breast drain to?
Ipsilateral axillary nodes (>75%)
Then to supraclavicular nodes
Where can lymph from the inner quadrants drain to?
Ipsilateral or contralteral nodes
Where else can lymph from the lower quadrants drain to?
Abdominal nodes
Lymph from the upper limbs also drains to axillary nodes; what clinical implications does this have?
If nodes removed (eg. in breast cancer treatmet) it can result in lymphedema
Where is level 1 of axillary clearance?
Inferior and lateral to pectoralis minor
Where is level 2 of axillary clearance?
Deep to pectoralis minor
Where is level 3 of axillary clearance?
Superior and medial to pectoralis minor
What is the blood supply to the breast?
Internal thoracic (internal mammary) artery: - Branch of the subclavian artery
What is the venous drainage of the breast?
Internal thoracic
How long is the male urethra?
~20cm
Which urethral sphincter is under voluntary control?
External
What is the most anterior organ in the pelvis?
Bladder
Where does the prostate lie in relation to the bladder?
Inferiorly
Where does the rectum lie in relation to the bladder?
Posteriorly
What forms the trigone of the bladder?
2 ureteric orifices
Internal urethral orifice
What forms the majority of the bladder wall?
Detrusor muscle
How does the detrusor muscle prevent reflux of urine into the ureters?
Fibres encircle ureteric orifices:
- Tighten when bladder contracts
The detrusor muscle also forms the internal urethral sphincter in men. What is its purpose?
Prevents retrograde ejaculation
As the testes travel through the spermatic cord, what 3 layers of coverings do they pick up from the inguinal canal?
- Internal spermatic fascia:
- Continuous with transversalis fascia - Cremasteric muscle (and fascia)
- Formed from internal oblique (and fascia) - External spermatic fascia:
- Extension of aponeurosis over external oblique
What are the contents of the spermatic cord?
Testicular artery and vein Vas deferens Lymphatic vessels Nerves: - Autonomic (vas deferens) - Somatic (cremaster muscle)
Where do the testes sit within in the scrotum?
Tunica vaginalis
What is a hydrocoele?
Excess fluid in the tunica vaginalis
How many sperm are produced per second?
1500
How long does a sperm take to mature?
64 days
Where do the sperm pass to after production in the seminiferous tubules?
- Rete testis
- Head of the epididymis
- Vas deferens
What is the approximate length of a testis?
~5cm
Where are the testis and epididymis attached to the spermatic cord? What are the clinical implications of this?
Superiorly:
- Risk of torsion
- Disruption of blood supply
- Severe pain and risk of necrosis
Where is the proximal end of the epididymis located?
Posterior aspect of the superior pole of the testis
Where do the arteries supplying the testes arise from?
The lateral aspects of the abdominal aorta
Where does the left testicular vein drain to?
Left renal vein
Where does the right testicular vein drain to?
IVC
Where do the arteries supplying and the veins draining the testes pass through?
Deep inguinal ring
What is the inferior aspect of the prostate gland in contact with?
Levator ani
What zone of the prostate is felt on PR exam?
Peripheral
What zone of the prostate is where most prostate cancers arise?
Peripheral
Where does the root of the penis attach to laterally?
Ischium
What cylinders of erectile tissue are located posteriorly and what do they transmit?
Corpa cavernosa (right and left) Transmit the deep arteries of the penis
What cylinder of erectile tissue is located anteriorly and what do they transmit? What do they expand distally to form?
Corpus spongiosum
Transmits spongy urethra
Expands distally to form the glans
What contains the root of the penis, the proximal spngy urethra, the superficial transverse perineal muscle and branches of the internal pudendal vessels and the pudendal nerves?
Superficial perineal pouch
What does the bulb of the penis form?
Corpus spongiosum
What do the crura of the penis form?
Corpa cavernosa
What muscles are associated with the bulb of the penis?
Bulbospongiosus
Ischiocavernosus
Where do the deep arteries of the penis branch from?
Internal pudendal artery (which is a branch of the internal iliac artery)
What blood vessels supply the scrotum?
Internal pudendal artery
External iliac artery branches
Where does lymph from the scrotum and the penis (except the glans) drain to?
Inguinal lymph nodes in superficial groin fascia
Where does lymph from the testes drain to?
Lumbar lymph nodes (around abdominal aorta)
When is basal body temperature measured?
Before rising in the morning
How much does the basal body temperature rise by when fertile?
> 0.2 degrees celcius
What changes in basal body temperature are indicative of ovulation?
Sustained increase for 3 days after at least 6 days of lower temperature
How can cervical mucous be used in natural family planning?
Ovulation indicated by thick and sticky mucous for >=3 days after thinner, watery mucous
When fertile, where does the cervix sit? What is it like?
High in vagina
Soft and open
When less fertile, where does the cervix sit? What is it like?
Low in vagina
Firm and closed
What days is a woman most fertile?
Days 8-18
When does breastfeeding work as contraception?
If the woman is:
- Exclusively breast feeding
- Less than 6 months post-natal
- Amenorrhoeic
What does the UK MEC apply to?
Hormonal contraception
IUDs
Emergency contraception
Barrier methods
What does UK MEC Category 1 indicate?
No restriction
What does UK MEC Category 2 indicate?
Advantages generally outweigh risks
What does UK MEC Category 3 indicate?
Risks generally outweigh advantages
What does UK MEC Category 4 indicate?
A condition represents an unacceptable risk if contraceptive method is used
How is the Pearl Index calculated?
Number of Pregnancies x 1200
————–DIVIDED BY—————-
Number of women x Number of months
What does the Pearl Index represent?
Number of contraceptive failures per 100 women users/year
How is Depo Provera administered?
IM
What does Depo Provera contain?
Medroxyprogesteron acetate
How is Sayana press administered?
S/C
How does Depo Provera primarily work?
Inhibits ovulation
How often are Depo Provera IM injections given and how long does it last?
Given every 12 weeks
Last 13 weeks
What are the secondary mechanisms of action of Depo Provera?
Thickens cervical mucous
Converts endometrium to secretory phase
What is the Pearl Index for Depo Provera?
0.2%
What examinations must be done before the prescription of Depo Provera?
BP and BMI before first prescription
Check smear status
Risk factors for osteoporosis
When can Depo Provera be started up to without the need for additional contraception?
Up to and including day 5 of the cycle
When can Depo Provera be started beyond day 5?
If she is ‘reasonably certain’ she is not pregnant
AND
She must use condoms/abstain for 7 days
What is ‘reasonably certain’?
No sex since last period
Consistently using reliable contraception
<7 days since last normal period
<4 weeks post-partum (not breastfeeding)
Fully breastfeeding, amenorrhoeic and <6 months post-partum
Negative pregnancy text AND >3 weeks since UPSI
When can Depo be started post-TOP?
Up to day 5
When can Depo be started post-partum?
Up to day 21 with immediate cover
In the context of a Depo injection, what should be done if pregnancy cannot be excluded?
Do pregnancy test in 3 weeks
Give Depo. thereafter
eg. After emergency contraception
What are the side effects of the Depo injection?
Weight gain
Delay in return of fertility
Irregular bleeding
Possible risk of osteoporosis
How does the IUD work?
Prevents fertilisation (Cu is toxic to sperm) Inflammatory response in endometrium
How long is an IUD licensed for?
5-10 years
What is the Pearl Index for IUDs?
0.6-0.8%
What does Mirena contain?
52mg of levonorgestrel:
- 20mcg released daily
- Decreased to 10mcg per day after 5 years
What does Jaydress contain?
- 5mg of levonorgestrel:
- 14mcg released daily for first 24 days
- 5mcg released daily after 5 years
How do IUSs work?
Primarily affect implantation:
- Endometrium render unfavourable for implantation
What are some secondary effects of IUSs?
Cervical mucous thickened
Pre-fertilisation effects
What is the Pearl Index of an IUS?
0.2%
What are some contraindications to IUD/IUS?
Current pelvic infection Abnormal uterine anatomy Pregnancy Sensitivity to constituents Gestational trophoblastic disease: - When beta-hCG levels abnormal/persistently raised Endometrial cancer Cervical cancer awaiting treatment
Within how many days of beginning a period can an IUD be fitted?
Within first 7 days when they are reasonably certain they aren’t pregnant
When can an IDU be used for emergency contraception?
Up to 5 days after UPSI
OR
Up to 5 days after predicted date of ovulation
When can an IUD be given post-partum?
Within 48 hours
OR
>4 weeks post-partum
When can an IUD be given post-TOP?
Immediately
Can an IUS be used for emergency contraception?
No
If an IUS is fitted outwith the first seven days of a a cycle, how long must condoms be used?
For first 7 days
When can an IUS be used post-TOP?
Up to day 7
What are some side effects of IUDs?
Heavy, prolonged menses
Pain/Infection/PID risk increased in first 20 days
Perforation (1-2/1000)
Expulsion (1/20 - Most in first 3 months)
Higher post-2nd trimester abortion
What is the ectopic risk associated with the use of an IUD?
0.08 per 100 women years
If pregnant:
- 9-50%
What are the side effects of using an IUS?
Lighter, less frequent bleeding
Pain/Infection/PID risk increased in first 20 days
Perforation (1-2/1000)
Expulsion (1/20 - Most in first 3 months)
Failure
What is the ectopic risk associated with the use of an IUS?
0.02 per 100 women years
How long is the subdermal rod licensed for?
3 years
What does the subdermal implant contain?
68mg Etonogestrel (Nexplanon):
- Released 60-70mcg per day in weeks 5-6
- 25-30mcg per day at end of 3rd year
How does the subdermal implant work?
Primarily inhibits ovulation
Others:
- Effect on endometrium
- Thickens cervical mucous
What is the Pearl Index of the subdermal implant?
0-0.1%
When can a subdermal implant be fitted without any need for additional precautions?
If:
- Within first 5 days of cycle
- Up to day 5 post-1st/2nd trimester abortion
- On or bfeore day 21 postpartum
When can a subdermal implant be fitted with the need for additional precautions for first 7 days?
She is reasonably certain she is not pregnant
‘Quick start’ after emergency contraception
‘Off-licence’