Free Medical Study

OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY -Mnemonics

Clinical conditions 
Labour - onset 
Mnemonic: Ready Mom for Some Discomfort 
R         Regular and painful uterine contractions 
M         Membranes ruptured 
S         ʻShowʼ 
D         Dilatation and effacement of cervix 

Factors that determine the rate and outcome of labour 
Mnemonic: 3 Pʼs 
P         Powers: strength of the uterine contractions 
P         Passages: size of the pelvic inlet and outlet 
P         Passengers: fetus – is it big or small, does it have anomalies, is it alive or
dead? 

Ante-partum haemorrhage (APH) causes 
Mnemonic: APH 
A         Abruption of placenta 
P         Placenta praevia (or vasa praevia) 
H         Haemorrhaging from the genitourinary tract 


Post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) causes                                            
Mnemonic: 4 Tʼs 
T         Tissue (retained placenta) 
T         Tone (uterine atony) 
T         Trauma (traumatic delivery, episiotomy) 
T         Thrombin (coagulation disorders, DIC) 

Gynaecology 
Endometriosis - symptoms 
Mnemonic: Classic ʻquartetʼ of DIPS
D         Deep dyspareunia 
I           Infertility 
P         Pelvic pain (cyclical) 
S         Secondary dysmenorrhoea 

Menopause - symptoms 
Mnemonic: FSH > 20 IU/L 
Remembering that this is the most accurate blood test in confirmation of the
menopause! 
F         hot Flushes/Female genitalia (vaginal) dryness and burning 
S         Sweats at night 
H         Headaches 
I           Insomnia 
U         Urge incontinence 
L          Libido decreases 

Menopause – long-term effects 
Mnemonic: CONU 
C         Cardiovascular disease: IHD, stroke, arterial disease 
O         Osteoporosis: accelerated bone loss leading to osteoporosis and pathological
fractures 
N         Neurological: Alzheimerʼs disease 
U         Urogenital atrophy: loss of pelvic floor muscle tone 

Infertility – causes and risk factors 
Mnemonic: INFERTILE (in females) 
I           Idiopathic 
N         No ovulation – PCOS, menopause, pituitary disease, thyroid disorders 
F         Fibroids – physical hindrance 
E         Endometriosis 
R         Regular bleeding pattern disrupted – oligo/amenorrhoea 
T         Tubal disease leading to blocked/damaged cilia 
I           Increasing age >35 years 
L          Large size – obesity 
E         Excessive weight loss – anorexia nervosa