Day 12 - Female Reproductive System and Pregnancy

Pathology of the Female Reproductive System

Ovarian Cysts

  • Collections of fluid within a sac (cyst) in the ovary.

  • Originate from follicles.

  • Can be benign or malignant.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

  • Inflammation and infection of the organs in the pelvic region.

  • Commonly caused by Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

  • Scarring and adhesions can lead to infertility.

Endometriosis

  • Definition: Presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus.

  • Symptoms: Pelvic pain, painful periods, and pain during intercourse.

  • Treatments: Pain relief medications, hormonal therapy, and in severe cases, surgery to remove the endometrial tissue.

  • Etymology:

    • Endo- inside/within

    • Metri- uterus

    • -osis condition

Fibroids (Leiomyomas)

  • Benign tumors of fibrous tissue and muscle in the uterus.

  • A painful condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation and scarring.

  • This condition can lead to severe pain, especially during menstruation, and may impact fertility.

  • Etymology:

    • Leio- smooth

    • Myo- muscle

    • -oma- tumor

    • -s- plural form

Uterine Prolapse

  • Uterus sags from its normal position and moves into the vagina.

  • Often occurs after menopause when ligaments are weaker.

Vaginal Candidiasis (Yeast Infection)

  • Caused by rapid growth of Candida albicans, a yeast or fungus normally present in the vagina.

  • Symptoms include itching, burning sensation, and unusual discharge, which can be treated with antifungal medications.

  • Etymology:

    • Candida yeast

    • -iasis abnormal condition

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

  • A group of symptoms experienced by some women in the two weeks before menstruation.

  • Includes bloating, edema, headaches, mood swings, and breast discomfort.

Cervical Dysplasia

  • Abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.

  • Caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

  • May become malignant and require regular monitoring.

  • Etymology:

    • Cervical pertaining to the cervix

    • Dysplasia abnormal cell growth/development

Pathology of Pregnancy

Abortion

  • Interruption or termination of pregnancy.

Spontaneous Abortion (Miscarriage)

  • Loss of pregnancy through naturally occurring events.

Induced Abortion

  • Termination of pregnancy through medical or surgical means.

Therapeutic Abortion

  • Termination of pregnancy due to issues with the viability of the fetus or the health of the mother.

Preeclampsia

  • Abnormal condition in pregnancy.

  • Etymology:

    • Pre- before

    • Eclampsia- seizures occurring during pregnancy

  • Causes:

    • Hypertension (typical cause)

    • Proteinuria

    • Edema

    • Headache

Eclampsia

  • Potentially life-threatening seizures in pregnancy that are not related to an underlying brain condition.

Ectopic Pregnancy

  • Implantation of the fertilized egg in a site other than the uterus.

  • Etymology:

    • Ec/Ecto- outside/out of place

    • -top- place

    • -ic- pertaining to

Placenta Previa

  • Abnormal implantation of the placenta in the lower portion of the uterus or over the cervical opening.

Abruptio Placentae

  • abruptio - tearing away, separation    

  • Premature separation of the implanted placenta.

  • It may be caused by trauma (e.g., a fall), hypertension, preeclampsia

Pseudocyesis

  • False pregnancy.

  • The patient has many symptoms of pregnancy, but no pregnancy exists.

  • Etymology:

    • Pseudo- false

    • Cyesis- pregnancy

Dystocia

  • Abnormal or difficult labor/childbirth.

  • Etymology:

    • Dys- difficult/abnormal/painful

    • -tocia- labor/childbirth

Shoulder Dystocia

  • A common form of dystocia where the baby’s shoulder is caught by the pelvic bone.

Breech Presentation

  • Fetus presents bottom or feet first.

Neonatal Pathology

Prematurity

  • Birth before 37 weeks’ gestation.

  • Can cause:

    • Low birth weight

    • Problems with maintaining body temperature

    • Problems with feeding

Neonatal Respiratory Distress (Hyaline Membrane Disease)

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome

  • Abnormal inhalation of meconium during birth.Meconium Aspiration Syndrome occurs when the newborn inhales a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid into the lungs during or before delivery, leading to breathing difficulties.

  • Meconium: The first feces passed by the baby.

Diagnostic Procedures

Conization (Cone Biopsy)

  • Removal of a cone-shaped section of the cervix for examination.

Papanicolaou Test (Pap Test or Smear)

  • Biopsy in which cells are scraped from the cervix and examined for signs of dysplasia.

Pregnancy Test

  • Blood or urine test to detect the presence of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).

Fetal Ultrasound

  • Non-invasive procedure used to image and evaluate fetal development.

Chorionic Villus Sampling

  • Examination of chorionic cells retrieved from the edge of the placenta between weeks 11 to 13 of pregnancy.

Amniocentesis

  • Needle puncture of the amnion to procure a sample of amniotic fluid.

  • Usually obtained between weeks 15 and 22 of pregnancy.

Apgar Score

  • Evaluation of a newborn infant’s physical status.

  • Assigns numerical values (0-2) to each of five criteria: Appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration.

  • The infant is evaluated at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.

  • A score of 8 to 10 is considered ideal.

Treatment

Medications

  • Contraceptives

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

  • Fertility drugs

  • Antibiotics

  • Antifungals

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

  • Molded plastic or copper contraceptive is inserted through the cervix into the uterus.

  • Irritates the uterus to block implantation.

Tubal Ligation

  • Occluding the fallopian tubes to prevent fertilization.

  • Methods:

    • Cautery: Using heat to seal the fallopian tubes and prevent the passage of eggs.

    • Ligation: Involves cutting and tying the fallopian tubes to prevent eggs from traveling to the uterus.

    • Clips: Small plastic or metallic devices are placed around the fallopian tubes to block the passage of eggs without cutting the tubes.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

  • Combination of egg and sperm outside the body in a laboratory dish to facilitate fertilization.

Dilatation and Curettage (D&C)

  • Widening of the opening of the cervix and scraping off endometrial material from the interior of the uterus.

Hysterectomy

  • Surgical removal of the uterus.

Types of Hysterectomy

  • Partial (Subtotal): Removal of the top part only.

  • Total: Removal of the entire uterus (including cervix).

  • Radical: Removal of everything. Additionally, a radical hysterectomy often includes the removal of surrounding tissues and structures such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and even parts of the vaginal canal, depending on the case.

Endometrial Ablation

  • Surgical destruction of the endometrium.

  • Used to treat abnormal bleeding that is not related to cancer.

Cesarean Section

  • Delivery of a baby through an incision in the abdominal and uterine walls.