Module 2 Discussion Women’s Health

Sample Answer

Women play a crucial role in maintaining the well-being of their families. However, they face distinct health challenges that demand careful attention from healthcare providers to enhance their overall health (Hammoud et al., 2020). A pivotal health milestone for women is conceiving and delivering a child.

Additionally, they have a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with specific chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease compared to men. To improve the management of women’s health, it is essential to perform a comprehensive history and physical examination. This paper delves into various facets of women’s health, particularly emphasizing the screening component aimed at preventing and managing chronic illnesses.

Components and Rationale of The Gynecological Health History

At the beginning of the provider-patient interaction, the patient’s history is obtained to highlight critical elements of the subsequent physical examination. Obtaining a thorough gynecological history is essential for gaining insight into the patient’s condition and guiding the subsequent physical examination. This information is crucial for accurately diagnosing the issue and devising an effective treatment strategy. The patient’s primary complaint about the current disease is the initial part of the gynecological history.

This is followed by the patient’s previous and present menstrual cycles, sexual activity, and any gynecologic symptoms, problems, or treatments (Fein & Paladine, 2020). If applicable, patients are also inquired about their menopausal history. In order to diagnose sexual dysfunction and evaluate the likelihood of gynecologic infections, injuries, and pregnancies, it is necessary to collect information on the client’s sexual history. A thorough examination by a clinician would involve gathering information about any previous breast issues, including the most recent mammogram if relevant, as well as the patient’s history of infertility and pap smear results.

Component of the GTPAL System

A woman’s obstetric history is obtained during a health examination using the GTPAL system. At a glance, GTPAL shows how many live children the woman has, as well as her term and pre-term abortions. Gravida, the first component of GTPAL, counts all pregnancies a woman has experienced, including current pregnancies, miscarriages, therapeutic abortions, and premature births (Fein & Palatine, 2020).

All births delivered at full term are recorded in the second component, Term; all births delivered preterm, or between 20 and 37 weeks of gestation, are represented in the third component, Preterm. All surgical and medicinal abortions, as well as losses before 20 weeks of pregnancy, are included in the fourth component, abortion. The final component captures the overall count of living children.

Screening Recommendations for G.R (66-year-old Female)

According to the screening guidelines set forth by the United States Preventive Service Taskforce (USPSTF), the patient is not eligible for cervical cancer screening due to her age (over 65 years) and previous hysterectomy. Furthermore, her ineligibility for ovarian cancer screening is justified by the task force’s recommendation against doing so for asymptomatic women. Nevertheless, G.R. is eligible for breast cancer screening as recommended by the USPSTF.

According to the guidelines, women between the ages of 50 and 74 should undergo biennial mammogram screenings to detect any signs of breast cancer (Hammoud et al., 2020). G.R. is within the appropriate age range for screening and would benefit from it. The patient is also eligible for osteoporosis screening, as the USPSTF recommends that women aged 65 years and older undergo such screening to mitigate the risk of developing osteoporosis fractures.

Contraindications for Hormonal Contraception

Despite being rotund with a body mass index of 40, the 35-year-old woman can utilize combined hormonal contraception. Nevertheless, this baseline BMI is a valuable tool for tracking alterations and educating women who may not prioritize weight fluctuations. The patient should be aware of the contraindications related to hormonal contraceptives. Combining hormonal contraceptives with breastfeeding, smoking, having a BMI above 35, having a history of thromboembolism in one’s family or personal history, hypertension, migraine with aura history, complications from diabetes mellitus, and a history of breast cancer are some of the contraindications (Houvèssou et al., 2021).

Conclusion

In summary, obtaining a history and physical examination are essential for women’s health. Clinicians need to gather relevant information from women, such as their menstrual cycle, sexual history, any gynecological issues they may have experienced, and their use of contraceptives. Gaining historical information precedes the next step, which involves physical examination, diagnosis, and treatment.

References

• Fein, A. W., & Paladine, H. L. (2020). Impact of a student-run Free Clinic’s Women’s Health program on perceived readiness for clinical rotations. PRiMER Peer-review Reports in Medical Education Research, p. 4. https //doi.org/10.22454/primer.2020.419532
• Hammoud, M. M., Foster, L. M., Cuddy, M. M., Swanson, D. B., & Wallach, P. M. (2020). Medical student’s experience with accessing and entering patient information in electronic health records during the obstetrics-gynecology clerkship. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 223(3), 435.e1-435.e6. https //doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.02.004
• Houvèssou, G. M., Farías-Antúnez, S., & Da Silveira, M. F. (2021). Combined hormonal contraceptives use among women with contraindications according to the WHO criteria A systematic review. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 27, 100587. https //doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2020.100587