Condition Lookup
Category:
Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies
Number of Conditions: 5
Ectopic Pregnancy
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies
Sub-category: Pregnancy-Related Conditions
Symptoms:
sharp or stabbing pelvic or abdominal pain; vaginal bleeding; dizziness or fainting; shoulder pain; weakness
Root Cause:
Fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tubes, leading to an inability to sustain the pregnancy and risk of rupture.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Combination of pelvic examination, transvaginal ultrasound, and serum hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) levels.
Treatment:
Treatment can involve medical management (methotrexate to dissolve the pregnancy) or surgical intervention (laparoscopic surgery) to remove the ectopic tissue and repair or remove the affected fallopian tube.
Medications:
Methotrexate , a folate antagonist, is prescribed to stop the growth of the ectopic pregnancy in select cases.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in approximately 1–2% of all pregnancies.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prior ectopic pregnancy, tubal surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease, smoking, assisted reproductive technologies, and use of intrauterine devices (IUDs).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with early detection and appropriate treatment; fertility can be preserved in many cases.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Rupture leading to severe internal bleeding, shock, infertility, and death if untreated.
Placental Abruption
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies
Sub-category: Pregnancy-Related Conditions
Symptoms:
sudden abdominal pain; vaginal bleeding; back pain; uterine tenderness; decreased fetal movement
Root Cause:
Premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, impairing oxygen and nutrient delivery to the fetus and risking maternal hemorrhage.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical symptoms, ultrasound imaging, and monitoring of fetal heart rate patterns.
Treatment:
Immediate delivery (typically by cesarean section if the condition is severe), stabilization of the mother's vital signs, and blood transfusion if needed.
Medications:
No direct medications to treat the condition, but corticosteroids (e.g., betamethasone ) may be used to accelerate fetal lung maturity in preterm cases if time allows.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects about 1% of pregnancies worldwide.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Hypertension, preeclampsia, previous placental abruption, trauma, smoking, and drug use (e.g., cocaine).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies based on severity and gestational age; good with timely intervention.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe hemorrhage, preterm birth, fetal distress or death, and maternal morbidity.
Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH)
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies
Sub-category: Pregnancy-Related Conditions
Symptoms:
excessive vaginal bleeding post-delivery; low blood pressure; rapid heart rate; pallor; dizziness or fainting
Root Cause:
Failure of the uterus to contract adequately (uterine atony), trauma during delivery, retained placenta, or coagulation disorders.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical assessment of blood loss (>500 mL after vaginal delivery or >1000 mL after cesarean) and evaluation of uterine tone and retained tissue.
Treatment:
Uterine massage, administration of uterotonic agents, surgical interventions if necessary, and blood transfusion to manage severe cases.
Medications:
Uterotonic agents such as oxytocin , misoprostol , carboprost tromethamine , or ergometrine are used to stimulate uterine contractions and reduce bleeding.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 3–5% of deliveries worldwide, being a leading cause of maternal mortality.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prolonged labor, multiple pregnancies, uterine overdistension, chorioamnionitis, or use of certain labor-inducing medications.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with timely management but can be life-threatening if unaddressed.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe anemia, hypovolemic shock, need for hysterectomy, organ failure, or maternal death.
Ovarian Torsion
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies
Sub-category: Gynecologic Conditions
Symptoms:
sudden severe pelvic or abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; abdominal tenderness; fever (occasionally)
Root Cause:
Twisting of the ovary and sometimes the fallopian tube, which compromises blood flow to the ovary. Often associated with ovarian cysts or masses.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, physical exam, transvaginal or pelvic ultrasound with Doppler to assess blood flow to the ovary, and occasionally diagnostic laparoscopy.
Treatment:
Emergency surgical intervention (laparoscopy or laparotomy) to untwist the ovary and preserve ovarian function. In some cases, oophorectomy (removal of the ovary) may be necessary.
Medications:
Pain relief is often managed with analgesics such as NSAIDs or opioids. Post-surgery antibiotics may be used to prevent infection. Examples - Ibuprofen (NSAID), Morphine (opioid), and Ceftriaxone (antibiotic).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Relatively rare; accounts for about 3% of gynecologic emergencies.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Ovarian cysts or tumors, pregnancy, hormonal treatments for ovulation induction, previous ovarian torsion, long ovarian ligaments.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good if treated promptly. Delay in treatment can lead to ovarian necrosis and loss of ovarian function.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Infertility, ovarian necrosis, peritonitis, sepsis, and in severe cases, death.
Severe Menorrhagia
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies
Sub-category: Gynecologic Conditions
Symptoms:
heavy menstrual bleeding lasting more than 7 days; clots larger than a quarter; fatigue; shortness of breath; dizziness; pallor
Root Cause:
Excessive uterine bleeding, often caused by hormonal imbalances, uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps, bleeding disorders, or underlying medical conditions.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, physical exam, pelvic ultrasound, blood tests (CBC for anemia, coagulation profile, thyroid function tests), and endometrial biopsy if indicated.
Treatment:
Depends on the underlying cause but includes medical management and sometimes surgical interventions.
Medications:
Hormonal therapy, antifibrinolytics, and NSAIDs. Examples - Tranexamic acid (antifibrinolytic), Combined oral contraceptives (hormonal), Ibuprofen (NSAID).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 10-30% of menstruating individuals, with higher rates in perimenopausal women.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disorders, anticoagulant use, hereditary bleeding disorders (e.g., von Willebrand disease).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies; treatable in most cases with appropriate management. Severe or untreated cases may lead to chronic anemia.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Iron-deficiency anemia, fatigue, poor quality of life, and in rare cases, severe hypovolemia requiring transfusion.