Gynecologic Pain and Vaginal Bleeding

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124 Gynecologic Pain and Vaginal Bleeding

Vaginal Bleeding

This section of the chapter addresses common causes of vaginal bleeding, including dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB), uterine leiomyomas (fibroids), vaginal foreign body, endometrial cancer, and cervical cancer.

Epidemiology

Uterine Leiomyomas (Fibroids)

Uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are the most common pelvic tumor in women and have been noted on pathologic examination in approximately 80% of surgically excised uteri.2 Risk factors include African American race, early menarche (<10 years of age), nulliparity, and family history. Several studies have shown more subtle correlations with obesity and diet.3,4

Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and occurs in approximately 25 per 100,000 women.5,6 This malignant disease develops during the reproductive and menopausal years, with most patients being 50 to 59 years of age. About 5% of women younger than 40 have adenocarcinoma, and it is diagnosed in a quarter of patients before menopause. Many cases of endometrial cancer go undetected given that Papanicolaou smears detect only 50% of cases and the diagnosis is rarely considered in perimenopausal women despite the aforementioned statistics.

Pathophysiology

Common terminology and definitions for vaginal bleeding are listed in Box 124.1. An understanding of the normal female reproductive cycle is useful when caring for patients with vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. The normal reproductive cycle is 28 days, with a range of 21 to 35 days, and the average age at menarche is approximately 12.5 years. The complex hormonal feedback mechanism that governs the female reproductive cycle is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis. Days 1 to 14 are known as the follicular or proliferative phase and are dominated by the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus; GnRH in turn stimulates pituitary release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). During this phase a dominant ovarian follicle matures and produces estrogen, which causes the endometrium to thicken and prepare for possible embryo implantation. Positive feedback of estrogen to the pituitary gland induces a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) on day 14 of the cycle, which results in ovulation. Days 14 to 28 are known as the luteal or secretory phase; this phase is predominated by progesterone production from the corpus luteum, which induces maturation of the endometrium. If conception and implantation do not occur, the corpus luteum involutes, estrogen and progesterone levels fall, and menstruation occurs.

Changes in the endometrium occur at each step of the reproductive cycle. During the proliferative phase the endometrium grows and thickens in response to estrogen as it prepares for implantation of an embryo. During the secretory phase the endometrium matures under the influence of progesterone and glands and secretory vacuoles develop. As progesterone levels drop at the end of the secretory (luteal) phase, prostaglandins are released and cause vasospasm within the endometrial vasculature. This leads to sloughing of the outer layers of the endometrium, and thus menstruation occurs.

Disruption at any point in this feedback loop may cause pelvic pain or abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

DUB is the most common cause of menorrhagia in menstruating females and is defined as abnormal uterine bleeding in the absence of organic disease. DUB can be ovulatory or anovulatory. Ovulatory DUB is hallmarked by regular intervals of increased menstrual flow. The root cause is an abnormality in uterine hemostasis secondary to cytokine and prostaglandin production. More commonly (accounting for 90% of cases of DUB), anovulatory DUB is hallmarked by irregular intervals of alternating heavy and light flow. This can be caused by primary ovarian disorders or a disruption in the HPO axis.7

Polycystic ovarian disease is classically associated with anovulatory uterine bleeding. It is defined by ovulatory failure, which leads to the absence of a corpus luteum and thus the lack of progesterone production and therefore unopposed action of estrogen on the endometrium. The uterine lining persists in the proliferative phase until it outgrows its vascular supply and degenerates, thereby leading to irregular menses with alternation between heavy and light flow. Women often have signs of hyperandrogenism, including hirsutism, obesity, acne, palpable enlarged ovaries, and acanthosis nigricans (hyperpigmentation typically in the folds of the skin of the neck, groin, or axilla).

Anovulatory DUB is most commonly seen in postpubescent girls secondary to immaturity of hypothalamic function. In general, it is failure to mount an LH surge that causes this dysfunction. As the central nervous system matures, the menses are ultimately regulated. In addition, systemic disease such as thyroid disorders, extreme fluctuations in weight, excessive exercise, or stress can all disrupt the HPO axis and lead to anovulation.

Presenting Signs and Symptoms

Vaginal bleeding can vary greatly in amount and severity. A thorough history and physical examination should be performed to evaluate the onset, duration, amount, and timing within the menstrual cycle of the bleeding. Assessment of severity includes determining the number of tampons or pads changed over a 12- to 24-hour period, whether they were saturated, and whether any clots were associated with the bleeding. Associated symptoms such as orthostatic complaints, fatigue, and dyspnea on exertion should point to underlying anemia from chronic blood loss or hypovolemia from acute blood loss. Vaginal bleeding may not be the primary disorder, and thus a thorough search for causes of secondary vaginal bleeding is prudent. The age of the patient, medical and surgical history, and medication profiles will also provide clues to the cause of the bleeding.

Differential Diagnosis and Medical Decision Making

The first step in evaluating any woman with vaginal bleeding should be to determine whether the patient is pregnant because this will drastically alter the diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

The most common causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding in nonpregnant patients are DUB and uterine leiomyomas. Tables 124.1 and 124.2 list the differential diagnosis of vaginal bleeding in nonpregnant females. Figure 124.1 details an approach to patients seen in the emergency department (ED) with the complaint of vaginal bleeding.

Table 124.1 Common Terminology and Definitions

TERMINOLOGY DEFINITION
Amenorrhea Cessation of menses for >6 mo
Dysmenorrhea Pain associated with menses
Hypomenorrhea Menstrual volumes < 20 mL/cycle
Menorrhagia Menses > 80 mL/cycle or occurring for >7 days
Metrorrhagia Vaginal bleeding between menstrual cycles or irregular cycles
Menometrorrhagia Prolonged or heavy bleeding at irregular intervals
Oligomenorrhea Decreased frequency of cycles (>35 days per cycle)
Polymenorrhea Increased frequency of cycles (<21 days per cycle)
Postmenopausal bleeding Bleeding 6-12 mo after menopause

Table 124.2 Systemic Causes of Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding

CAUSE MECHANISM
Weight loss
Stress
Excessive exercise
Hypothalamic suppression of GnRH
Polycystic ovarian disease Excessive estrogen effects on the endometrium
Anovulatory cycles
Hypothyroidism Anovulatory cycles
Hyperthyroidism Changes in androgen and estrogen production
Hyperprolactinemia (prolactinoma) Mass effect on the pituitary stalk reduces GnRH secretion
Liver failure Decreased production of vitamin K–dependent clotting factors
Increased estrogen levels secondary to decreased metabolism
Renal failure Inherent platelet dysfunction

Platelet dysfunction Cushing disease Mass effect on the pituitary stalk reduces GnRH secretion
Decreased LH, FSH function

FSH, Follicle-stimulating hormone; GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; LH, luteinizing hormone.

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

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