OB/GYN
Benign Gynecologic Conditions
OB/GYN

Benign Gynecologic Conditions

Fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, ovarian cysts, lichen sclerosus.

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Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids)

  • Most common pelvic tumor in reproductive-age women
  • Symptoms: heavy menstrual bleeding, bulk symptoms (urinary frequency, pelvic pressure)
  • Enlarged irregular uterus on bimanual exam
  • Confirm with TVUS
  • Tx: NSAIDs, OCPs, LNG-IUD, GnRH agonists; UAE; myomectomy; hysterectomy

Adenomyosis

  • Endometrial glands within myometrium
  • Boggy, ENLARGED, tender uterus
  • Menorrhagia + dysmenorrhea
  • MRI confirms (vs fibroids: discrete masses)
  • Tx: NSAIDs, hormonal therapy, hysterectomy

Endometriosis

  • Endometrial tissue OUTSIDE uterus
  • Classic triad: chronic pelvic pain + dysmenorrhea + deep dyspareunia
  • Dyschezia (rectal), infertility
  • Gold standard dx: laparoscopy with biopsy
  • Tx: NSAIDs + COCs → progestins → GnRH agonists → laparoscopic excision
  • Letrozole or IVF for fertility

Ovarian cysts

  • Functional: follicular (most common), corpus luteum
  • Dermoid (mature cystic teratoma): hair, teeth, sebum
  • Endometrioma ('chocolate cyst'): endometriosis
  • Management depends on size + characteristics + age
  • Simple cyst <5 cm in premenopausal: observe
  • Complex or postmenopausal: surgical evaluation

Ovarian torsion

  • Sudden severe unilateral pain + N/V + adnexal mass
  • RFs: ovarian mass >5 cm, pregnancy, fertility treatment
  • Doppler may show ↓ flow (but normal flow doesn't rule out)
  • Emergent laparoscopy with detorsion ± cystectomy
  • Right > left (sigmoid protects)

PID (pelvic inflammatory disease)

  • Lower abd pain + CMT + adnexal tenderness
  • Treat empirically (don't wait for cultures)
  • Outpatient: ceftriaxone IM + doxycycline ± metronidazole
  • Inpatient: cefoxitin/cefotetan + doxycycline (if pregnant, severe, TOA, no response)
  • Complications: infertility, ectopic, chronic pain, Fitz-Hugh-Curtis (perihepatitis)

Lichen sclerosus

  • Postmenopausal vulvar pruritus + atrophic white patches in figure-of-eight
  • Risk of vulvar SCC (biopsy if suspicious)
  • Treat: high-potency topical corticosteroid (clobetasol)

Bartholin gland cyst/abscess

  • Vulvar swelling, may be tender if abscess
  • Cyst: observation if asymptomatic
  • Abscess: I&D + Word catheter or marsupialization
  • If recurrent or postmenopausal: biopsy (rule out cancer)

High-yield pearls

  • Endometriosis triad: chronic pelvic pain + dysmenorrhea + deep dyspareunia
  • Adenomyosis: ENLARGED boggy uterus + menorrhagia
  • Fibroids: enlarged IRREGULAR uterus
  • Ovarian torsion: emergent surgery to preserve fertility
  • Lichen sclerosus: clobetasol + biopsy if suspicious
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