Women's Health Week 13 Overview

Women's Health Overview

• Course is Women's Health, taught by Inge Luce (MSN/Ed, RN-C, Paramedic)
• Week 13, covering Chapters 18-19
• Focuses on various aspects of women's health, from STIs to cancers, reproductive issues and more.

Health Promotion

• Defined as enabling individuals to increase control over and improve their health.
• Key definition from the WHO (2017)

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

• Youth at risk due to factors like:
  • Insufficient screening (many young women don't receive recommended chlamydia screenings)
  • Confidentiality concerns (reluctance to disclose risk behaviors to doctors)
  • Biological susceptibility (young women's bodies are biologically more susceptible)
  • Lack of access to healthcare (lack of insurance or transportation to access prevention services)
  • Multiple sex partners (increased STI risk with multiple partners).

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

• Prevention strategies:
  • Education
  • Gardasil-9 vaccine
• Screening methods:
  • Pap smear
  • HPV testing

Cervical Cancer

• Treatment options:
  • Conization
  • LEEP
  • Cryotherapy
  • Hysterectomy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy

Uterine Leiomyoma

• Symptoms: abdominal/pelvic pain, low back pain, constipation, infertility, heavy/long menstruation, iron deficiency anemia.
• Risk factors: high levels of estrogen & progesterone, pregnant & perimenopausal individuals, nulliparous individuals.
• Treatment options:
  • Uterine artery embolization
  • MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery
  • Surgical removal of tumor
  • Hysterectomy
  • Medications

Abnormal Vaginal Discharge

• Post-menopausal bleeding: vaginal bleeding after menopause; possible endometrial cancer, requiring endometrial biopsy, hysterectomy and/or radiation and chemotherapy
• Fistulas: abnormal tracts between organs; imaged for diagnosis, surgical repair, and preventative measure.

Hysterectomy

• Types: Partial, Total, and Radical hysterectomy (described with diagrams)

Breast Cancer

• Prevention: (none explicitly mentioned, but is implicitly discussed)
• Screening: mammograms, ultrasound(U/S) and MRI.
• Treatment: oncotype testing, lumpectomy, mastectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy.
• Symptoms: lump, pulled in nipple, dimpling, redness, and dripping.

Mammogram

• Guidelines: start at age 40-45, earlier if high risk, annual exams.
• Preparation: avoid perfumes, lotions, deodorants, or powder on the arms and armpits to prevent shadowing.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

• Symptoms: acne, hair loss, facial hair, abdominal obesity, ovarian cysts, Type II diabetes, and infertility.
• Note presence of masculinization signs (accompanying diagram).

Menopause

• Stages:
  • Perimenopause: irregular menses, symptoms
  • Menopause: 12 months no menses
  • Postmenopause: permanent cessation of menses, symptoms decreasing.

LGBTQ Care

• Note the importance of extreme health disparities, increased risks amongst this group and decreased access.
• Recommend education, support, and quality care for LGBTQ patients regardless of sexual orientation or identity.

Intimate Partner Violence

• Includes physical/sexual violence, stalking, and psychological aggression by a current/former partner.
• Risk increases during pregnancy, correlating with low birth weights, premature births, and neonatal death.
• Associated risk factors include low self-esteem, academic achievement issues, and low support systems, in addition to substance use.
• Recommendations include careful screening for signs like overuse of healthcare, vague or evasive history, delay in seeking care, and injuries.