Menstrual Disorders Practice Questions

Q: Which of the following modalities has shown the best results for premenstrual syndrome?

SSRI. **Explanation:** **Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)** and its more severe form, **Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)**, are characterized by physical and emotional symptoms occurring during the luteal phase. **Why SSRIs are the Correct Choice:** Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered the **first-line pharmacological treatment** for PMS/PMDD. The underlying pathophysiology involves a maladaptive response to normal fluctuations in gonadal steroids (estrogen and progesterone), which leads to a deficit in central **serotonergic transmission**. SSRIs rapidly increase synaptic serotonin levels. Unlike in depression, SSRIs for PMS can be administered in a **luteal-phase-only** regimen (starting on day 14) with high efficacy. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **B. Progesterone:** Historically used based on the "progesterone deficiency" theory; however, clinical trials have shown it is **no more effective than placebo** for treating PMS. * **C. Estrogen:** While estrogen (often via patches) can suppress ovulation, it is not first-line and must be balanced with progesterone to prevent endometrial hyperplasia, which may trigger PMS symptoms. * **D. Anxiolytics:** Drugs like Alprazolam may help with specific symptoms of anxiety or insomnia but are second/third-line due to the risk of dependence and lack of effect on physical symptoms. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Gold Standard Diagnosis:** Prospective charting of symptoms for at least **two consecutive cycles** (e.g., using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems). * **First-line SSRIs:** Fluoxetine, Sertraline, and Paroxetine. * **Non-pharmacological first step:** Lifestyle modifications (exercise, complex carbohydrates, and stress reduction). * **Definitive Treatment:** For refractory cases, **GnRH analogues** (to induce medical menopause) or bilateral oophorectomy may be considered.

Q: Endometrial sampling for abnormal uterine bleeding is indicated in all the following situations EXCEPT:

Multiple sexual partners. The primary goal of endometrial sampling in Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) is to rule out **endometrial hyperplasia or malignancy**. **Explanation of the Correct Answer:** **D. Multiple sexual partners:** This is a risk factor for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which are associated with **Cervical Cancer**, not endometrial cancer. While these patients require a Pap smear and STI screening, "multiple sexual partners" is not an independent indication for sampling the endometrium. **Explanation of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Patient aged >45 years:** According to ACOG and FIGO guidelines, any woman over age 45 presenting with AUB must undergo endometrial sampling as the first-line diagnostic test due to the increased risk of malignancy with age. * **B. Irregular menstrual bleeding:** Specifically in the context of **chronic anovulation** (e.g., PCOS), irregular bleeding leads to "unopposed estrogen" action on the endometrium. This prolonged proliferative phase increases the risk of hyperplasia, necessitating a biopsy if the patient is over 35 or has other risk factors. * **C. Failed medical therapy:** If AUB persists despite adequate medical management (like COCPs or Tranexamic acid), sampling is mandatory to rule out structural pathology or occult malignancy that medical therapy cannot address. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Gold Standard:** Endometrial biopsy (using a Pipelle) is the gold standard for diagnosing endometrial cancer. * **Age Cut-off:** In patients 4 mm** is a strong indication for biopsy.

Q: Which of the following is not indicated in the management of menorrhagia?

Clomiphene. **Explanation:** The management of menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding) focuses on reducing menstrual blood loss (MBL) through medical or surgical interventions. **Why Clomiphene is the Correct Answer:** Clomiphene citrate is a **Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM)** used primarily as an **ovulation-inducing agent** in infertility management. It works by blocking estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus, leading to increased FSH and LH secretion. It is **not** a treatment for menorrhagia; in fact, by inducing ovulation and follicular growth, it may occasionally lead to a thicker endometrium or ovarian hyperstimulation, which does not help in reducing menstrual flow. **Analysis of Other Options:** * **NSAIDs (e.g., Mefenamic acid):** These inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, reducing the levels of prostaglandins (PGE2 and PGF2α) in the endometrium. This leads to vasoconstriction and reduced MBL by approximately 20-30%. * **Norethisterone:** This is a synthetic progestogen. When given in the luteal phase or as a long-term regimen, it stabilizes the endometrium and prevents excessive proliferation, effectively managing dysfunctional uterine bleeding. * **Tranexamic Acid:** An antifibrinolytic agent that inhibits the breakdown of fibrin clots by blocking plasminogen activation. It is one of the most effective non-hormonal treatments, reducing MBL by up to 50%. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **First-line medical management** for menorrhagia (WHO/NICE): **Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System (LNG-IUS/Mirena)**. * **Best non-hormonal treatment:** Tranexamic acid. * **Drug of choice for menorrhagia with dysmenorrhea:** NSAIDs (Mefenamic acid). * **Surgical Gold Standard:** Hysterectomy (definitive), though Endometrial Ablation is a less invasive alternative for those who have completed their family.

Q: Cryptomenorrhea is seen in which of the following conditions?

Imperforate hymen. **Explanation:** **Cryptomenorrhea** (hidden menstruation) refers to a condition where menstruation occurs physiologically, but the menstrual blood fails to exit the genital tract due to an anatomical obstruction in the outflow tract. **1. Why Imperforate Hymen is Correct:** In patients with an **imperforate hymen**, the ovaries and uterus function normally, leading to regular endometrial shedding. However, the blood is trapped behind the intact hymen, leading to **hematocolpos** (blood in the vagina) and eventually **hematometra** (blood in the uterus). This typically presents in adolescent girls as primary amenorrhea with cyclical lower abdominal pain and a bulging, bluish membrane at the introitus. **2. Why the Other Options are Incorrect:** * **Asherman’s Syndrome:** This involves intrauterine adhesions that obliterate the uterine cavity. There is no menstruation occurring because the endometrium is replaced by scar tissue; hence, it is a cause of true amenorrhea, not hidden menstruation. * **Testicular Feminizing Syndrome (AIS):** These individuals have a 46,XY karyotype. They lack a uterus and ovaries; therefore, no menstruation occurs at all. * **Uterine Agenesis (Müllerian Agenesis):** In this condition (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome), the uterus is absent. Without a uterus, there is no endometrial shedding, making cryptomenorrhea impossible. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Most common cause** of cryptomenorrhea: Imperforate hymen. * **Second most common cause:** Transverse vaginal septum. * **Clinical Sign:** A palpable suprapubic mass (hematometra) may be present. * **Management:** Cruciate incision on the hymen to allow the old blood (which appears like "chocolate" or "tar") to drain. Avoid packing the vagina post-procedure to prevent infection.

Q: What is the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea?

Pregnancy. **Explanation:** **1. Why Pregnancy is the Correct Answer:** In any woman of reproductive age presenting with a cessation of menses, **pregnancy** is statistically the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea. Physiologically, during pregnancy, the persistent production of progesterone by the corpus luteum (and later the placenta) maintains the endometrial lining and inhibits the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis through negative feedback, preventing further menstruation. In clinical practice and for NEET-PG, the first step in investigating secondary amenorrhea is always a urine pregnancy test (UPT) to rule this out. **2. Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **A. Hypogonadism:** While conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) are significant causes of secondary amenorrhea, they are statistically less frequent than pregnancy. * **B. Hypopituitarism:** This involves a failure of the pituitary to secrete FSH/LH (e.g., Sheehan’s syndrome). While it causes amenorrhea, it is a rare clinical entity compared to physiological causes. * **D. Ovarian Tumor:** Certain tumors (like Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors) can cause amenorrhea due to hormone secretion, but these represent a very small fraction of cases. **3. NEET-PG High-Yield Pearls:** * **Definition:** Secondary amenorrhea is the absence of menses for **3 months** in a woman with previously regular cycles, or **6 months** in those with irregular cycles. * **Most common pathological cause:** Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). * **Most common cause of primary amenorrhea:** Gonadal dysgenesis (Turner Syndrome). * **Asherman’s Syndrome:** The most common uterine cause of secondary amenorrhea, often following over-zealous curettage. * **First-line Investigation:** Urine Pregnancy Test (UPT) or serum beta-hCG.

Q: A 45-year-old woman presents with a history of polymenorrhea for the last six months. What is the first-line management?

Dilatation and curettage. **Explanation:** The primary concern in a perimenopausal woman (age >40 years) presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), such as polymenorrhea, is the risk of **Endometrial Hyperplasia or Endometrial Carcinoma**. **Why Dilatation and Curettage (D&C) is correct:** In women over 40, any change in menstrual frequency or flow necessitates a tissue diagnosis to rule out malignancy. D&C serves a dual purpose: it is **diagnostic** (obtaining a sample for histopathology) and **therapeutic** (scraping the functional layer to stop immediate bleeding). While Transvaginal Ultrasound (TVS) is often an initial screening tool to measure endometrial thickness, D&C remains a gold-standard "first-line" intervention in clinical exams to exclude hyperplasia before starting hormonal therapy. **Why other options are incorrect:** * **Hysterectomy (A):** This is a major surgical intervention and is considered definitive management only after a diagnosis is confirmed and medical management has failed. * **Progesterone (B) & Oral Contraceptives (D):** Hormonal therapy is the treatment for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB). However, these should **never** be started in a woman over 40 without first ruling out endometrial cancer via biopsy or D&C. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Age Cut-off:** For AUB, the threshold for mandatory endometrial sampling is **>45 years**, or **>40 years** if there are additional risk factors (obesity, nulliparity, PCOD). * **Pipelle Biopsy:** In modern practice, Pipelle aspiration is the preferred office procedure, but D&C remains the classic answer for "diagnostic and therapeutic" management in exams. * **Polymenorrhea definition:** Menstrual cycle length **<21 days**.

Question 1

What is the best line of management for a 45-year-old lady with polymenorrhoea for 6 months?

Accepted Answer

Oral contraceptive pills for 6 months

Answer

Progesterone for 6 months

Answer

Dilation and curettage

Answer

Hysterectomy

Question 2

Which of the following modalities has shown the best results for premenstrual syndrome?

Accepted Answer

SSRI

Answer

Progesterone

Answer

Estrogen

Answer

Anxiolytics

Question 3

Endometrial sampling for abnormal uterine bleeding is indicated in all the following situations EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Multiple sexual partners

Answer

Patient aged greater than 45 years

Answer

Irregular menstrual bleeding

Answer

Failed medical therapy

Question 4

Which of the following is not indicated in the management of menorrhagia?

Accepted Answer

Clomiphene

Answer

NSAIDs

Answer

Norethisterone

Answer

Tranexamic acid

Question 5

Cryptomenorrhea is seen in which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Imperforate hymen

Answer

Asherman's syndrome

Answer

Testicular feminizing syndrome

Answer

Uterine agenesis

Question 6

What is the most common cause of secondary amenorrhea?

Accepted Answer

Pregnancy

Answer

Hypogonadism

Answer

Hypopituitarism

Answer

Ovarian tumor

Question 7

Trans-Cervical Endometrial Resection (TCER) is used in which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB)

Answer

Endometriosis

Answer

Endometrial carcinoma

Answer

Submucous fibroid

Question 8

Primary amenorrhoea is seen in all the following conditions except:

Accepted Answer

Asherman syndrome

Answer

Klinefelter syndrome

Answer

Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome

Answer

Turner syndrome

Question 9

A 45-year-old woman presents with a history of polymenorrhea for the last six months. What is the first-line management?

Accepted Answer

Dilatation and curettage

Answer

Hysterectomy

Answer

Progesterone for 3 cycles

Answer

Oral contraceptive for 3 cycles

Question 10

Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment for abnormal uterine bleeding - endometrial (AUB-E)?

Accepted Answer

Oral progestins

Answer

NSAIDs

Answer

Tranexamic acid

Answer

Combined OCPs

Menstrual Disorders — MCQs

Menstrual Disorders — MCQs

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