Week 6 - Gendered Health Flashcards
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is an oestrogen dependent, inflammatory condition, defined by endometrial cells found outside the uterine cavity.
Risk factors for endometriosis:
- Genetic predisposition - family history
- Long and heavy menstrual periods
- Altered immune function
- Early onset menstruation: before 11 years old
- Frequent periods or short cycles
- Low body weight
Pathophysiology for endometriosis:
Instead of menstrual blood flowing out of the body as usual, some travels backwards along the fallopian tubes and into the pelvis.
Results in the retrograde movement of endometrial cells with the blood → from the uterus → back up the fallopian tubes → into the pelvic cavity.
The endometrial cells implant on the surface of pelvic organs and lining of the pelvis (peritoneum) and start growing → turning normal pelvic tissue into endometriosis → leads to inflammation and scarring, which can cause painful ‘adhesions’ between pelvic organs that are normally separated
Clinical manifestations of endometriosis:
- Dysmenorrhoea
- Heavy, irregular menstrual bleeding
- Mid-cycle bleeding
- Bleeding from the bladder or bowel
- Changes in urination or bowel movements
How is endometriosis diagnosed:
- History and physical examination
- Pelvic examination
- Pelvic ultrasound
- MRI
- Early referral to Gynaecologist
- Laparoscopy
Medical management of endometriosis:
- Hormone therapy
- Combined oral contraceptive pills
- Laproscopy surgery
- Intrauterine devices
What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?
A complex hormonal and metabolic imbalance (endocrine disorder) that affects the entire body.
Pathophysiology of PCOS:
Imbalance in the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland → ↑ levels of insulin → ↑ levels of oestrogen, ↑ luteinising hormone (LH) and ↓ follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (called the increased LH:FSH ratio) → ovaries producing excessive androgens (male-type hormones = testosterone but not progesterone) → ovaries become enlarged with multiple fluid-filled cysts which develop within the mature ovarian follicles that have failed to rupture and release an egg → clinical manifestations of PCOS
Clinical manifestations of PCOS:
- Lower abdominal pain, discomfort and bloating
- Breast tenderness
- Hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the face, chest, back, or buttocks)
- Alopecia (thinning or loss of hair from the head)
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Oily skin and acne
How is PCOS diagnosed?
- History and examination
- Blood tests: androgens, Luteinising Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- Pelvic ultrasound
Medical management treatment goals of PCOS:
- Early diagnosis and treatment to improve quality of life
- Decreased weight and increased exercise
- Medications can be used for symptom management
- Oral contraceptive used for menstrual cycle regulation
What is ovarian cancer?
Complex disease composed of different types and grades = types include epithelial and germ-cell
Risk factors of ovarian cancer:
- Ageing
- Genetic family history of ovarian, bowel or breast cancer
Pathophysiology of ovarian cancer:
Ovarian cancer begins with the loss of form and function of ovarian cells as they become cancerous. During ovulation, these cells can then be transported into the ovary where they replicate, with eventual tumour development.
Stage 1 of ovarian cancer:
Cancer confined to the ovaries
Stage 2 of ovarian cancer:
Cancer is in one or both ovaries and has spread to the pelvic region such as the fallopian tubes or uterus
Stage 3 of ovarian cancer:
Cancer is in one or both ovaries and has spread beyond the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen or to the lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen
Stage 4 of ovarian cancer:
Most advanced, cancer has metastasized (spread) to distant sites such as the spleen, liver, lungs or other organs outside of the pelvic region
What are germ cells?
The cells within the ovaries that develop into eggs
What is Epithelial Ovarian Cancer?
Cancer that forms on the outer tissue covering the ovary (epithelium)
What is the most common type of ovarian cancer?
Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Clinical manifestations of ovarian cancer:
- Pain / bleeding during / after sex
- Needing to urinate urgently and frequently
- Indigestion / nausea
- Excessive fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss / gain
- Bleeding after menopause
How is ovarian cancer treated?
Surgery or chemotherapy
What is gestational diabetes?
A diagnosis of diabetes during pregnancy, in women with no previous history of diabetes.
What are the risk factors for GDM?
- Aged 40 years or over
- Family history of type 2 diabetes or a first-degree relative (mother or sister) who has had gestational diabetes
- Obesity
- Elevated blood glucose levels in the past
- Cultural
- History of PCOS
Pathophysiology of T2DM:
Oral intake → glucose absorbed by the digestive tract → glucose transported into the bloodstream → blood glucose levels ↑ → target cells send a trigger signal to the pancreas to release insulin → Beta cells secrete insulin → target cells have developed in ineffective response to this insulin so send additional triggers for more insulin to be secreted → ↑ insulin secretion → hyperinsulinemia
Pathophysiology of GDM:
Placenta hormones (especially human placental lactogen and human placental growth hormone) block the effects of insulin → maternal insulin resistance and hyperglycemia → glucose crosses the placenta → foetal hyperglycaemia → foetus produces increased insulin to combat hyperglycaemia → ↑ foetal growth and complicates delivery.
Clinical manifestations of GDM:
- Fatigue
- Polydipsia/ polyuria/ polyphagia
- Candida infections
- Nausea/vomiting
- Urinary tract infections
- Weight loss
- Blurred vision
What is the gold standard used for diagnosing GDM is the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)?
An OGTT tests blood glucose levels at set intervals after the consumption of a syrupy glucose drink (75g of glucose) and after fasting for 12 hours. Pathology will be collected as a base-line prior to drinking the glucose (fasting glucose), then repeated 1 hour and 2 hours post consumption of the oral glucose.
Medical management of GDM:
- Lifestyle modification = exercise, healthy diet
- Blood glucose monitoring = may need to be tested up to four times a day (start of the morning and after every meal)
- If necessary, medications such as metformin or insulin will be commenced if life-style modification is not effective in normalising BGLs.
Blood glucose levels - hypo, normal and hyper:
Hypoglycemia = BGL <3.9mmols/L Normal = 4 to 8 mmols/L before meals & 6 to 10mmols/L up to 2 hours after meals Hyperglycemia = >14mmols/L
Important topics to consider when providing education and support for the patient with GDM and their support persons, include:
- Fluid and dietary regime
- Exercise requirements
- Weight management / smoking cessation, if applicable
- Correct self-monitoring of BSLs - procedure and timing
- Prevention of infection
- Skin care - regularly moisturize to prevent dry skin
What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BHP)?
A non-cancerous growth of the prostate gland.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BHP) risk factors:
- Ageing
- Changes in male sex hormones associated with ageing
- Family history
- Testicular abnormalities
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Increased alcohol consumption
- Smoking
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BHP) pathophysiology:
Exact trigger for cell proliferation unknown but is most likely to be multifactorial:
Advancing age → ↓ testosterone secretion (or ↑ oestrogen secretion) and ↑ DHT secretion → nodules form (nodule hyperplasia) on the periureteral gland (inner gland or layers of the prostate closest to the urethra) → glandular cell enlarge (hypertrophy) → continued nodular hyperplasia and cellular hypertrophy → prostate enlargement → obstruction and inflammation → tissue around the prostate compress the urethra → clinical manifestations → BPH
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BHP) clinical manifestations:
- Nocturia, usually first symptom that occurs
- Urinary frequency
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary urgency
- Dysuria
- Haematuria
- Bladder pain