UK Reproductive Health

Question 1

What is meant by fertility?

Answer 1

fertility is a measure of reproductive output

It is usually expressed as a fertility rate - 2.4 births per woman

Question 2

What is meant by fecundity?

Answer 2

This is the potential to reproduce

may have no children YET

Question 3

What is meant by a maternal death?

Answer 3

Death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of the pregnancy

The cause must be related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management

Question 4

What is meant by a direct maternal death?

Answer 4

Death resulting from obstetric complications of the pregnant state

e.g. pregnancy, labour

Question 5

What is meant by an indirect maternal death?

Answer 5

Death resulting from a previous existing disease, or disease that developed during pregnancy

The disease was aggravated by the physiological effects of pregnancy

Question 6

What is meant by a late maternal death?

Answer 6

Deaths occurring between 42 days and 1 year after the end of pregnancy

Question 7

What is meant by a coincidental (fortuitous) maternal death?

Answer 7

Deaths relating from unrelated causes which happen to occur in pregnancy or the puerperium

Question 8

What is the peurperium?

Answer 8

the period of about six weeks after childbirth during which the mother’s reproductive organs return to their original non-pregnant condition

Question 9

What are the major causes of direct maternal deaths?

Answer 9

1. thrombosis
2. haemorrhage
3. amniotic fluid embolism
4. genital tract sepsis
5. PET
6. Early pregnancy
7. anaesthesia

Question 10

What is the maternal mortality rate in the UK?

Answer 10

10-15 per 100, 000 maternities

Question 11

What us endometritis?

Answer 11

It is an infection within the uterus that occurs between day 2-10 post-pregnancy

It involves inflammation of the endometrium

Question 12

When is endometritis more common?

Answer 12

Following caesarean section

Question 13

What is the main symptom of endometritis?

Answer 13

Abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge

Question 14

What are the other symptoms of endometritis?

Answer 14

1. abdominal pain
2. fever, malaise, rigors, headache
3. offensive lochia
4. secondary PPH (post-partum haemorrhage)

Question 15

What is meant by lochia?

Answer 15

the vaginal discharge after giving birth, containing blood, mucus, and uterine tissue

continues for 4-6 weeks after pregnancy

Question 16

What is a post partum haemorrhage?

Answer 16

sudden and profuse blood loss or persistent increased blood loss

Question 17

What are the symptoms of PPH?

Answer 17

1. fainting and dizziness

2. palpitations and tachycardia

Question 18

What are the causes of PPH?

Answer 18

1. tone
2. trauma
3. tissue/infection
4. thrombin

Question 19

What is a venereal disease?

Answer 19

sexually transmitted disease

Question 20

Before referral for IVF, a couple must have not conceived after having unprotected sexual intercourse for how long?

Answer 20

1 year

Question 21

How many couples have difficulty conceiving?

Answer 21

Around 1 in 7

Question 22

In the antenatal period, pregnant women are routinely screened for which condition?

Answer 22

Rhesus group

Anti-D is routinely given to Rhesus-ve women at 28 weeks and post delivery.

Question 23

To be seen as ethical, what must screening comply with?

Answer 23

The Wilson criteria

Question 24

What is the modal length of a Uk pregnancy?

Answer 24

40 weeks