Antenatal care, labour complications, gynaecological malignancies, fertility, contraception, and menstrual disorders.
Antenatal care is the systematic medical supervision of women during pregnancy, aiming to monitor fetal and maternal wellbeing, screen for complications, and prepare for a safe delivery.
Antenatal screening encompasses a structured programme of tests offered during pregnancy to identify fetal abnormalities, maternal infections, and pregnancy complications, enabling informed parental decision-making.
Antepartum haemorrhage (APH) is vaginal bleeding from 24 weeks gestation until delivery, complicating 3-5% of pregnancies and requiring urgent assessment for maternal and fetal wellbeing.
Caesarean section is the delivery of a baby through a surgical incision in the abdominal wall and uterus, accounting for approximately 30-35% of all UK deliveries.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common female cancer worldwide, predominantly caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), with UK screening and HPV vaccination programmes significantly reducing incidence.
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme uses HPV primary testing to detect high-risk HPV and cervical abnormalities, inviting women aged 25-64 for regular screening.
Contraception encompasses the range of methods used to prevent pregnancy, with NICE and FSRH guidance supporting patient-centred choice across hormonal, non-hormonal, and permanent options.
Eclampsia is the occurrence of generalised tonic-clonic seizures in a woman with pre-eclampsia, representing a life-threatening obstetric emergency requiring immediate treatment.
Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised ovum implants outside the uterine cavity, most commonly in the fallopian tube, and is a potentially life-threatening gynaecological emergency.
Emergency contraception (EC) is used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse, with the copper IUD being the most effective method available up to 5 days post-coitus.
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological malignancy in the UK, primarily presenting with postmenopausal bleeding, with the majority being type 1 oestrogen-dependent endometrioid adenocarcinoma.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition where endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterine cavity, affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age and causing pain and infertility.
Gestational diabetes mellitus is glucose intolerance first recognised during pregnancy, affecting approximately 5-7% of UK pregnancies, with significant implications for maternal and fetal outcomes.
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of early-onset neonatal sepsis in the UK, managed with intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) in high-risk women.
HELLP syndrome (Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets) is a severe variant of pre-eclampsia with significant maternal and fetal morbidity, requiring urgent delivery.
Hyperemesis gravidarum is severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy causing dehydration, weight loss >5%, ketonuria, and electrolyte disturbance, requiring medical management and often hospital admission.
Induction of labour (IOL) is the artificial initiation of labour before spontaneous onset, offered when the benefits of delivery outweigh the risks of continuing pregnancy.
Infertility is the failure to achieve clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse, affecting approximately 1 in 7 couples, managed per NICE CG156.
Instrumental delivery uses forceps or vacuum (ventouse) to assist vaginal delivery in the second stage of labour when there is delay, fetal compromise, or maternal indication.
Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation due to loss of ovarian function, typically around age 51, with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) being the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms per NICE NG23.
Menorrhagia is heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) exceeding 80mL per cycle, affecting 1 in 4 women and significantly impacting quality of life, managed per NICE NG88.
Miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of pregnancy before 24 weeks gestation, affecting approximately 1 in 4 recognised pregnancies, with most occurring in the first trimester.
Molar pregnancy (hydatidiform mole) is an abnormal form of gestational trophoblastic disease characterised by trophoblastic proliferation and requiring βhCG monitoring to detect malignant transformation.
Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in UK women, often diagnosed at advanced stage due to non-specific symptoms, with high-grade serous carcinoma being the most common subtype.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs within or on the ovary, most commonly functional and benign, though requiring assessment to exclude malignancy particularly in postmenopausal women.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is infection of the upper female genital tract, commonly caused by Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae, with early treatment essential to prevent tubal damage and infertility.
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is the descent of pelvic organs into the vaginal canal due to weakened pelvic floor support, affecting up to 50% of parous women, managed per NICE NG123.
Placenta praevia is when the placenta partially or completely covers the internal cervical os, complicating 0.5% of pregnancies at term and requiring planned caesarean delivery.
Placental abruption is premature separation of a normally sited placenta from the uterine wall, causing maternal haemorrhage and fetal compromise, complicating approximately 1% of pregnancies.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, characterised by oligo-anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovarian morphology.
Postnatal depression affects 10-15% of women within the first year after childbirth, presenting with persistent low mood, anhedonia, and functional impairment requiring prompt identification and treatment.
Postpartum haemorrhage is blood loss of ≥500mL after vaginal delivery or ≥1000mL after CS, and remains the leading cause of maternal death worldwide.
Pre-eclampsia is a multisystem hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterised by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks' gestation, with potential for eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and maternal/fetal death.
Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is spontaneous rupture of fetal membranes before onset of labour; preterm PROM (PPROM) before 37 weeks carries significant risks of infection and prematurity.
Preterm labour is the onset of regular uterine contractions with cervical change between 24+0 and 36+6 weeks gestation, the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide.
Puerperal psychosis is a rare but severe psychiatric emergency occurring in 0.1-0.2% of deliveries, typically within the first 2 weeks postpartum, requiring urgent psychiatric admission to a Mother and Baby Unit.
Recurrent miscarriage is defined as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses before 24 weeks, affecting approximately 1% of couples and warranting systematic investigation.
Reduced fetal movements (RFM) are a common presenting complaint in pregnancy, associated with adverse outcomes including stillbirth, and require prompt assessment per RCOG GTG 57.
Retained placenta is failure of the placenta to deliver within 30 minutes of active management or 60 minutes of physiological management, occurring in 1-3% of vaginal deliveries.
Rhesus disease occurs when maternal anti-D antibodies cross the placenta and cause haemolysis of RhD-positive fetal red blood cells, potentially leading to haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.
Urinary incontinence is involuntary leakage of urine, affecting up to 40% of women in the UK, classified as stress, urgency, or mixed incontinence, and managed per NICE NG123.
Uterine fibroids (leiomyomata) are benign smooth muscle tumours of the myometrium, affecting up to 70% of women by age 50, commonly causing heavy menstrual bleeding and pressure symptoms.