WOMENS HEALTH - SEXUAL HEALTH, BREAST AND EXTRA CONDITIONS Flashcards
CHLAMYDIA
What findings may there be on clinical examination in chlamydia?
- Pelvic/abdo tenderness
- Cervical excitation
- Cervicitis
- White/purulent discharge
CHLAMYDIA
What are some generic complications of chlamydia?
- Reactive arthritis,
- epididymitis,
- PID,
- endometriosis,
- increased incidence of ectopic pregnancy,
- most common preventable cause of infertility
CHLAMYDIA
How would you manage chlamydia?
- Test for other STIs, contraceptive advice, ?safeguarding if child.
- Doxycycline 100mg BD for 7d (C/I pregnancy or breastfeeding).
- 1g azithromycin stat dose in pregnancy (erythromycin or amoxicillin safe too)
- Referral to GUM for partner notification + contact tracing.
GONORRHOEA
What are the local complications of gonorrhoea?
- Urethral strictures
- Epididymo-orchitis + salpingitis (can lead to infertility)
GONORRHOEA
What are the systemic complications of gonorrhoea?
- PID
- Gonococcal arthritis (most common cause of septic arthritis in young adults)
- Disseminated gonococcal infection as triad (tenosynovitis, migratory polyarthritis, dermatitis lesions can be maculopapular or vesicular)
BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS
What are the risk factors of bacterial vaginosis?
- Multiple sexual partners
- Excessive vaginal cleaning
- Recent Abx
- Smoking
- IUD
BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS
What diagnostic criteria is used in BV?
Amsel’s (3/4)
- Thin, white discharge (can present asymptomatically)
- Vaginal pH using swab + pH paper >4.5
- Clue cells on cervical swab MC&S (endocervical or self-taken vaginal)
- Positive whiff test (add potassium hydroxide to get very strong fishy odour)
TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS
What causes TV?
What is the structure of this organism?
- Protozoan parasite, single-celled organism with flagella – trichomonas vaginalis
- 4 flagella at front, 1 on back making it highly motile, attach to tissues + cause damage
TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS
What is the clinical presentation of TV?
- PV discharge classically offensive, frothy + yellow/green.
- Vulvovaginitis, itching, dysuria + dyspareunia.
- May cause urethritis + balanitis in men
TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS
What might clinical examination of TV show?
- Speculum = strawberry cervix (colpitis macularis) due to cervicitis + tiny haemorrhages on surface of cervix due to infection
TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS
What investigations would you do for TV?
- Vaginal pH >4.5
- Charcoal swab for MC&S (HVS, urethral swab or first-catch urine).
- Microscopy shows motile trophozoites + wet microscopy shows polymorphonuclear leukocytes
SYPHILIS
What is the clinical presentation of secondary syphilis?
- Systemic (low grade fever, lymphadenopathy).
- Maculopapular rash (trunk, soles + palms).
- Condylomata lata (grey wart-like lesions around genitals + anus).
- Alopecia
- Buccal ‘snail track ulcers’
SYPHILIS
What is the clinical presentation of tertiary syphilis?
- Gummas (granulomatous lesions that can affect skin, organs + bones)
- Aortic aneurysms
- Neurosyphilis – tabes dorsalis (locomotor ataxia), paralysis, dementia,
- Argyll-Robertson (prositutes) pupil - accomodates but does not react
SYPHILIS
What is an Argyll-Robertson pupil?
“Accommodates but does not react”
- Constricted pupil that accommodates when focusing on near object but does not react to light, often irregularly (small) shaped
SYPHILIS
What investigations would you do for syphilis?
- Treponemal tests (enzyme immunoassay or haemagglutination assay)
- Samples from site of infection tested with dark field microscopy or PCR
SYPHILIS
How would you manage syphilis?
- Specialist GUM (full STI screening, contact tracing, contraceptive information).
- Single dose IM benzathine benzylpenicillin or PO doxycycline if allergic
SYPHILIS
What is a potential adverse effect of treating syphilis?
- Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction within a few hours of treatment
- Fever, rash + tachycardia thought to be due to release of endotoxins following bacterial death
GENITAL HERPES
What other specific symptoms may be seen in genital herpes?
- Aphthous ulcers (small painful oral sores)
- Herpes keratitis (inflammation of the cornea = blue)
- Herpetic whitlow (painful skin lesion on finger/thumb)
GENITAL HERPES
What is the management or primary genital herpes contracted before 28w gestation?
- Aciclovir during infection
- Prophylactic aciclovir from 36w gestation onwards to reduce risk of genital lesions during labour + delivery
- Asymptomatic at delivery can have vaginal if >6w from initial infection, if Sx then c-section
GENITAL WARTS
What are the investigations for genital warts?
- Clinical diagnosis (may use magnifying glass or colposcope)
- Application of acetic acid/vinegar produces acetowhite changes of surface
- Biopsy if atypical
GENITAL WARTS
How is genital warts managed?
- Prophylaxis with HPV vaccine for 12–13y (may be given to MSM, trans men/women + sex workers)
- Topical podophyllotoxin cream/lotion or cryotherapy.
- GUM contact tracing, contraceptive advice
LICHEN SCLEROSUS
What phenomenon can occur in lichen sclerosus?
- Koebner phenomenon where signs + Sx worse with friction to skin
- Can be worse with tight, rubbing underwear, scratching + incontinence
HIV
What is HIV?
What is the pathophysiology of HIV?
- RNA retrovirus that encodes reverse transcriptase
- Binds to GP120 envelope glycoprotein to CD4 receptors which migrate to lymphoid tissue where virus replicates + produces billions of new virions
- Reverse transcriptase makes single strand RNA > double stranded DNA + viral DNA is integrated to host cell’s DNA with enzyme integrase + core viral proteins synthesised + cleaved by viral protease
- These then released + in turn infect new CD4 cells
HIV
What tests can be used to investigation HIV?
- Serum/salivary HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
- Rapid point of care screening blood test for HIV antibodies
- PCR testing
HIV
What are the considerations with HIV and pregnancy?
- Normal vaginal delivery if viral load <50 copies/ml
- Consider c-section if >50, but mandatory in >400
- IV zidovudine 4h before c-section
- Neonatal PO zidovudine if maternal viral load <50 if not triple ART both for 4–6w
- No breastfeeding
HIV
What are the 4 main groups of HIV treatment?
- Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
- Protease inhibitors (PIs)
- Integrase inhibitors (IIs)
- Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
GONORRHOEA
What is the clinical presentation of gonorrhoea discharge?
Odourless purulent, can be green/yellow
TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS
What can it increase the risk of?
Contracting HIV by damaging vaginal mucosa
BV,
cervical cancer,
PID
pregnancy-related complications.
SYPHILIS
What is the causative organism?
Treponema pallidum – spirochete (spiral-shaped) bacteria
CANDIDIASIS
What are some risk factors?
Increased oestrogen (pregnancy, during menstrual years)
poorly controlled DM,
immunosuppression,
broad spectrum Abx
CANDIDIASIS
What treatment should be used in pregnancy?
Clotrimazole in pregnancy as fluconazole can cause congenital abnormalities
BALANITIS
what are the causes?
candidiasis
dermatitis
bacterial
anaerobic
lichen planus
lichen sclerosis
BALANITIS
what are the acute causes?
candidiasis
dermatitis
bacterial
anaerobic
BALANITIS
what is the treatment for bacterial infection?
flucloxacillin or clarithromycin if penicillin allergic
BALANITIS
what is the treatment for anaerobic balanitis?
saline washing
oral metronidazole
LYMPHOGRANULOMA VENEREUM
what is it?
STI caused by serovars L1, L2 or L3 or chlamydia trachomatis
LYMPHOGRANULOMA VENEREUM
what are the clinical features?
Painless genital ulcer
Appears 3-12 days after infection
May not be noticeable e.g. if occurs inside the vagina
Inguinal lymphadenopathy
Proctitis, rectal pain, rectal discharge (in rectal infections)
Systemic symptoms such as fever and malaise
LYMPHOGRANULOMA VENEREUM
what is the management?
Treatment is with antibiotics. Common regimes include:
Oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 21 days
Oral tetracycline 2 g daily for 21 days
Oral erythromycin 500 mg four times daily for 21 days
CHANCROID
what are the causes?
Haemophilus ducreyi
Given its relatively high incidence in topical areas and Greenland, it is important to inquire in the history about recent travel.
CHANCROID
what are the clinical features?
A painful genital lesion which may bleed on contact
Associated symptoms include painful lymphadenopathy
CHANCROID
what is the management?
The infection is treated using antibiotics (typically Ceftriaxone, Azithromycin or Ciprofloxacin)
COCP
What are the benefits of the COCP?
- Effective contraception, rapid return of fertility after stopping.
- Improvement in PMS, menorrhagia + dysmenorrhoea (acne in some).
- Reduced risk of endometrial, ovarian, colon cancer + benign ovarian cysts.
COCP
What are some side effects + risks with the COCP?
- Unscheduled bleeding common in first 3m.
- Breast pain + tenderness.
- Mood changes + depression.
- Headaches, HTN, VTE.
- Small raise in risk of breast + cervical cancer (risk normalises after 10y taking pill).
- Small raise in risk of MI + stroke.
COCP
What are the UKMEC3 criteria for the COCP?
- > 35 smoking <15/day.
- BMI >35kg/m^2.
- Controlled HTN.
- VTE FHx in 1st degree relatives.
- Immobility.
- Known carrier of BRCA1/2.
POP
What is the main complaint/side effect of the POP?
What are some other side effects of the POP?
- Unscheduled bleeding common in first 3m (if persists exclude other causes like STIs, pregnancy, cancer).
- Changes to bleeding schedule one of primary adverse effects (40% regular bleeding, 40% irregular, prolonged or troublesome + 20% amenorrhoeic).
- Breast tenderness, headaches + acne.
POP
What are some risks of the POP?
- Increased risk of ovarian cysts, small risk of ectopic pregnancy with traditional POP due to reduced ciliary action, minimal increased risk of breast cancer (returns to normal 10y after stopping).
PROGESTERONE INJECTION
What is the mechanism of action of the progesterone injection?
- Inhibits ovulation by inhibiting FSH secretion by the pituitary gland + prevents development of follicles in the ovary.
- Thickens cervical mucus + alters endometrium to make it less favourable for implantation.
PROGESTERONE INJECTION
What are 3 unique side effects to the progesterone injection?
- Weight gain
- Reduced BMD (oestrogen maintains BMD + mostly produced by follicles in ovaries)
– Makes depot unsuitable for those >45 - Takes 12m for fertility to return after stopping
PROGESTERONE INJECTION
What are some general side effects of the progesterone injection?
- Acne.
- Reduced libido.
- Mood issues (depression).
- Headaches.
- Alopecia.
- Skin reactions at injection sites.
- Small rise in breast/cervical cancer risk.
PROGESTERONE IMPLANT
What is the mechanism of action for the progesterone implant?
- Inhibits ovulation.
- Thickens cervical mucus.
- Alters endometrium to make it less accepting to implantation.
PROGESTERONE IMPLANT
What are the side effects of the progesterone implant?
- Problematic bleeding (20% amenorrhoeic, 25% frequent/prolonged bleeding, 33% infrequent, rest normal, can use COCP for 3m if problematic bleeding + no C/Is).
- Can worsen acne, no STI protection.
PROGESTERONE IMPLANT
What are the risks with the progesterone implant?
- Can be bent/fractured or impalpable/deeply implanted needing extra contraception until located (USS/XR), may need specialist removal.
- Very rarely can enter vessels + migrate through body to lungs.
COILS
What are the contraindications to the coils?
- PID or infection,
- immunosuppression,
- pregnancy,
- unexplained bleeding,
- pelvic cancer,
- uterine cavity distortion (fibroids).
COILS
What are the drawbacks of the IUD?
- Procedure with risks for insertion/removal.
- Can cause HMB/IMB which often settles.
- Some women have pelvic pain.
- No STI protection.
- Increased risk of ectopic pregnancies.
- Occasionally falls out.
COILS
What is the mechanism of action for the IUS?
- Progesterone component thickens cervical mucus.
- Alters endometrium making less hospitable + inhibits ovulation in small # of women.
COILS
What are the drawbacks of the IUS?
- Procedure with risks for insertion/removal.
- Can cause spotting or irregular bleeding.
- Some women experience pelvic pain.
- No STI protection.
- Increased risk of ectopic pregnancies.
- Occasionally falls out.
- Increased incidence of ovarian cysts.
- Systemic absorption can lead to progesterone Sx (acne, headaches, breast tenderness).
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
For the copper IUD, answer the following…
i) effectiveness?
ii) time frame?
iii) mechanism?
iv) extra notes?
i) 99% regardless of time in cycle
ii) <120h of UPSI or 120h after earliest estimated date of ovulation
iii) Toxic to sperm + ovum so inhibits fertilisation + implantation.
iv) Keep in until at least next period
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
For Ulipristal acetate, answer the following…
i) dose?
ii) effectiveness?
iii) time frame?
iv) mechanism?
v) extra notes?
vi) side effects?
i) Single 30mg dose
ii) Second most effective but decreases with time
iii) <120h
iv) Selective progesterone receptor modulator that inhibits ovulation
v) Vomiting within 3h then repeat dose
vi) Spotting + changes to next menstrual period, abdo/pelvic/back pain, mood changes, headaches, dizziness, breast tenderness
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
For Ulipristal acetate, what are the pros and cons?
Pros
- More effective than levonorgestrel
- Can be used >1 in one cycle
Cons
- Avoid breastfeeding for 1w (express but discard)
- Avoid in severe asthma
- Wait 5d before starting COCP or POP with 7 or 2d extra contraception needed
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
For levonorgestrel, answer the following…
i) dose?
ii) effectiveness?
iii) time frame?
iv) mechanism?
v) side effects?
i) Single 1.5mg dose (3mg if BMI >26kg/m^2)
ii) Least effective of group 84%
iii) <72h
iv) Stops ovulation + inhibits implantation
v) Spotting + changes to next menstrual period, diarrhoea, breast tenderness, dizziness, depressed mood
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
For Levonorgestrel, what are the pros and cons?
Pros
- Safe during breastfeeding (Avoid for 8h to avoid infant exposure though).
- COCP/POP can start instantly but with extra contraception for 7/2d
- Use more than once in a menstrual cycle
Cons
- Less effective
FEMALE INFERTILITY
What are some risk factors of infertility?
- Extremes of weight
- Increasing age
- Smoking
- Alcohol/drug use
ASSISTED CONCEPTION
What is the clinical presentation of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?
- Mild = abdo pain + vomiting
- Mod = N+V + ascites on USS
- Severe = ascites, oliguria
- Critical = anuria, VTE, ARDS
ASSISTED CONCEPTION
What are the risk factors for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?
- Younger age.
- Lower BMI.
- PCOS.
- Higher antral follicle count.
ASSISTED CONCEPTION
What investigations would you do in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and what would they show?
How could you identify someone at risk?
- Activation of RAAS > high renin
- Haematocrit raised as less fluid in intravascular space
- USS + serum oestrogen (high = risk) – monitor these to identify those at risk.
ASSISTED CONCEPTION
What is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?
What is it associated with?
- Increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from granulosa cells increases vascular permeability so fluid leaks from intravascular>extravascular space (oedema, ascites + hypovolaemia).
- Gonadotrophins to mature follicles.
BREAST CANCER
What are the 2 main genes involved in breast cancer and how do they act?
- BRCA1 = mutation of C17, 60-80% lifetime risk, stronger incidence
- BRCA2 = mutation of C13, 45% lifetime risk
- Tumour suppression genes that act as inhibitors of cellular growth
BREAST CANCER
What are some other genetic mutations associated with breast cancer?
- TP53 (Li Fraumeni)
- Peutz-Jeghers