Residency training in colposcopy: a survey of program directors in obstetrics and gynecology and family practice.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to identify how colposcopy is being taught to residents in obstetrics and gynecology and family practice programs and to see if the program directors think their residents receive sufficient clinical exposure to be adequately trained in colposcopy. STUDY DESIGN: A 30-question survey was sent to all obstetrics and gynecology and family practice residency program directors. The survey included questions about the didactic nature of the colposcopy curriculum, the type of supervision, how resident skills are evaluated, estimates of the numbers and types of patients evaluated, the numbers and types of procedures being done by each resident, and the program director's perception of residents' competence in colposcopy. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 485 of 752 program directors (64.5%). Significantly fewer family practice than obstetrics and gynecology program directors thought they had adequate numbers of colposcopy patients to train their residents. By their program directors' estimates, 86% of family practice residents evaluate 10 or fewer patients with high-grade lesions (versus 16.5% of obstetrics and gynecology residents); 51.4% evaluate 10 patients or fewer with low-grade lesions (versus 6.7% of obstetrics and gynecology residents), and 40.6% evaluate 10 patients or fewer with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (versus 3% of obstetrics and gynecology residents). Experience with vulvar disease is also limited. Program directors thought their residents' colposcopy skills were roughly comparable with their general obstetrics and gynecology skills. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible that many program directors underestimate the number of colposcopic examinations required to achieve and maintain colposcopic skills. Many training programs have insufficient clinical volume to properly train residents in colposcopy.

Using progestins in clinical practice.

Progestational agents have many important functions, including regulation of the menstrual cycle, treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding, prevention of endometrial cancer and hyperplastic precursor lesions, and contraception. Because of the reported side effects of synthetic analogs called "progestins," there has been interest in replicating the natural hormone for clinical use. Natural progesterone is obtained primarily from plant sources and is currently available in injectable, intravaginal and oral formulations. An oral micronized progesterone preparation has improved bioavailability and fewer reported side effects compared with synthetic progestins. Adolescents and perimenopausal women may require progestational agents for the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding resulting from anovulatory cycles. These agents may also be used in women at risk for endometrial hyperplasia because of chronic unopposed estrogen stimulation. Progestin-only contraceptives can be used in women with contraindications to estrogen; however, efficacy requires rigorous compliance. New progestins for use in combination oral contraceptive pills were specifically developed to reduce androgenic symptoms. It is unclear whether these progestins increase the risk of venous thromboembolic disease. Progestin-only emergency contraception offers a regimen that is more effective than combination oral contraceptive pills, with fewer reported side effects.

Model of family medicine and obstetrics-gynecology collaboration in obstetric care at the University of Michigan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess concordance between family physician obstetric privilege delineation and actual care delivered, and describe associated clinical and educational collaborations between family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive retrospective review of the care and complications of 962 consecutive patients admitted to a family medicine obstetric service in a research-intensive academic medical center, and compared the results with a structured obstetric privilege delineation. RESULTS: Of 962 women admitted by family medicine faculty members, 741 (77.9%) were managed exclusively by family physicians, 63 (6.6%) were comanaged by family physicians and obstetricians, and 147 (15.5%) were transferred to obstetricians (data missing for 11 patients). Spontaneous vaginal deliveries were performed in 772 patients (81%), cesarean delivery in 116 patients (12.2%), and assisted delivery by forceps or vacuum in 19 (2%) and 44 (4.6%) patients, respectively. Of 926 intrapartum obstetric complications identified in 604 obstetric deliveries, 615 complications (66.4%) in 418 deliveries were managed exclusively by family physicians consistent with privilege delineation, comanagement occurred in 56 patients with 92 complications (9.9%), and care was transferred in 130 patients with 219 complications (23. 7%). CONCLUSION: A structured method of obstetric privilege delineation for family medicine faculty members and associated guidelines for family physician-obstetrician interactions has led to a successful family medicine obstetric service at a research-intensive, tertiary-care medical center, with a high concordance between privilege delineation and actual care delivered. This success has resulted in incremental clinical and educational collaborations that have improved the quality of women's health care and education.

HPV testing in the evaluation of the minimally abnormal Papanicolaou smear.

Minor cytologic abnormalities of the cervix, such as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), are vastly more common than high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or invasive cancer. Current guidelines for the management of ASCUS include repeating the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear at specific intervals, referring all patients for colposcopy or using an adjunctive test such as hybrid capture human papillomavirus (HPV) testing or cervicography. The usefulness of the Pap smear is limited by its considerable false-negative rate and its dependence on clinician and laboratory performance. Colposcopy is a highly sensitive procedure, but many patients with ASCUS have normal colposcopic findings. The hybrid capture test not only measures quantitative HPV load but also detects both oncogenic and nononcogenic HPV types, thereby increasing the probability that serious cervical disease is not missed. Hybrid capture sampling is simple to perform, and positive results are strongly associated with cervical dysplasia. HPV testing in women with ASCUS can be used as an adjunctive test to identify those with HPV-associated disease; it can also serve as a quality assurance measure. Together, repeat Pap smears and HPV testing should identify most patients with underlying cervical dysplasia. Combined testing may also minimize the number of unnecessary colposcopic examinations in women who have no disease.

Triage of the abnormal Papanicolaou smear in pregnancy.

Triage of the abnormal Papanicolaou smear in pregnancy requires colposcopic evaluation and directed biopsy. If histologic cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is confirmed, the patient can be managed with observations and can be re-evaluated in the postpartum period. If evidence of microinvasion is present, conization must be performed. For patients with invasive disease, a delay in therapy until fetal maturity is achieved does not compromise survival.

Assessing colposcopic skills: the instructor's handbook.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the United States, 93% of family practice residency programs teach colposcopy. Training should ideally include didactic teaching of basic knowledge, followed by practice on models and then supervised teaching with patients. Although various curricula have been published that outline basic principles of colposcopy education, methods of determining clinical competency among resident physicians are lacking. Methods of assessing psychomotor are cognitive skills in colposcopy are available for instructors, including the use of preclinical cervical practice models for colposcopic biopsy and endocervical curettage, visual skills tests that use images of colposcopic findings, colposcopy CD-ROMs, written pretest and posttest knowledge assessment instruments, and procedural checklists. Specific parameters for many of these tools can be used to define clinical competency in colposcopy.

Exercise during pregnancy.

Exercise has become a vital part of many women's lives. However, theoretic concerns have been raised about the safety of some forms of exercise during pregnancy. Because of the physiologic changes associated with pregnancy, as well as the hemodynamic response to exercise, some precautions should be observed. The physician should screen for any contraindications to exercise and encourage patients to avoid overly vigorous activity, especially in the third trimester, when most pregnant women have a decreased tolerance for weight-bearing exercise. Adequate hydration and appropriate ventilation are important in preventing the possible teratogenic effects of overheating. Pregnant women should avoid exercise that involves the risk of abdominal trauma, falls or excessive joint stress, as in contact sports and vigorous racquet sports. In the absence of any obstetric or medical complications, most women can maintain a regular exercise regimen during pregnancy. Some studies have found a greater sense of well-being, shorter labor and fewer obstetric interventions in physically well-conditioned women as compared with other women.

Office procedures. Endometrial biopsy.

Endometrial biopsy is a relatively safe, efficient, and well-tolerated procedure. Indications include evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding and infertility. Excluding the presence of endometrial cancer and precursors is of primary concern. Use of the popular narrow polyethylene sampling devices results in a sensitivity approaching 95% for the diagnosis of endometrial cancer. Inadequate samples are more common in postmenopausal than premenopausal women, primarily because of atrophy of the endometrium.

Dysmenorrhea and dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is a diagnosis of exclusion. Endometrial cancer and endometrial precursor lesions must be excluded before a diagnosis of anovulatory bleeding is made. Treatment consists of intravenous estrogen therapy, oral contraceptive pills, and progestational agents. Menorrhagia is excessive menstrual bleeding treated with antiprostaglandins, levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine contraceptive devices, endometrial ablation, and danazol. Dysmenorrhea results from the release of prostaglandin 2alpha and is treated with antiprostaglandin agents such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Differentiating normal and abnormal findings of the vulva.

Proper evaluation of the vulva required background in general dermatology and an understanding of the special nature of many vulvar conditions. A firm understanding of normal vulvar findings is necessary to guard against overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. In the past few years, the most common overdiagnosis has been that of micropapillae of the inner labia minora, or acetowhite changes of the vulva, secondary to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Differentiating normal variants and minor nonspecific findings from well-developed disease is not always easy. Vulvar biopsy should be performed if a diagnosis cannot be made confidently by visual inspection alone. Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia is a precancerous lesion of squamous origin associated with HPV infection. It usually occurs in younger patients. Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia in older women is associated with chronic inflammation, especially in areas of hyperplasia and atrophy. The older patient with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia has a higher risk of developing invasive vulvar cancer.

Evaluation of amenorrhea.

Pregnancy is the most common cause of amenorrhea and must be ruled out before proceeding with diagnostic evaluation. A careful history and physical examination may reveal evidence of androgen excess, estrogen deficiency or other endocrinopathies. Serum prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels should be checked in all women who are not pregnant. Galactorrhea by history or on examination and/or an elevated prolactin level should be investigated with an imaging study to rule out a pituitary adenoma. If serum prolactin and TSH levels are normal, a progesterone challenge test should be performed to determine outflow tract patency and estrogen status. In women with hypoestrogenic amenorrhea, indicated by a negative challenge test and a competent outflow tract, serum gonadotropin, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels may be measured to determine whether amenorrhea represents ovarian failure or pituitary or hypothalamic dysfunction. Hypothalamic amenorrhea is common in women with a history of weight loss, stress or vigorous exercise. Amenorrheic women with adequate estrogen levels should receive cyclic progesterone. Hormonal therapy and calcium supplementation in hypoestrogenic amenorrhea.

Preconceptual obstetric risk assessment and health promotion.

Preconceptual risk assessment is an increasingly important part of obstetric care in the era of fetal therapeutics, invasive diagnostic techniques and "premium" pregnancies. The constant rates of the two greatest contributors to infant morbidity and mortality--congenital malformations and low birth weight--suggest that our basic approach to obstetric care is not sufficiently preventive. Preconceptual obstetric risk assessment, along with health promotion, education and therapeutic intervention, can reduce risk and improve outcome. A medical and psychosocial emphasis on preconceptual and early pregnancy care, along with promotion of the health of the pregnant woman, the fetus, the infant and the family up to one year after birth, may prove to be a way of decreasing infant morbidity and mortality. The identification of important risks associated with demographics, systemic disease, infection, environment, genetics and lifestyle will assist the family physician in promoting health strategies in obstetric care.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: current management options.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is an increasingly common finding among sexually active young women. Many of these women have not completed their families, so preservation of fertility is an important factor to consider when planning appropriate treatment. In the past, management of precancerous cervical lesions was aggressive, primarily consisting of conization of the cervix. This procedure yielded excellent cure rates but was associated with a high incidence of complications. The widely accepted use of colposcopy in the evaluation of abnormal cervical cytology and the use of ablative and conservative excisional treatment modalities have resulted in a decreased number of conization procedures. More recently, management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia has taken a more conservative approach. This article describes the risks and benefits of the multiple modalities available for the management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Spontaneous abortion.

Spontaneous abortion rates vary with maternal age, but the overall incidence is approximately 2% of clinically recognized pregnancies. The incidence of clinically unrecognized loss is approximately 20%. Most early fetal losses are caused by abnormal karyotypes. Other causes include heavy caffeine use, acute alcohol consumption, and smoking. Ultrasonographic examination, which includes yolk sac configuration and crown-rump length determination can help differentiate between normal and abnormal pregnancies. After 8 weeks' gestation, hormonal assays are decreased. Conservative management of spontaneous abortions can be considered if patients have low beta-hCG levels and no residual tissue detected using ultrasonography. Complications of spontaneous abortion include maternal death, bleeding, and infection. Consideration should be given to the psychological health of women and their partners who experience spontaneous abortion, particularly if they exhibit depression, guilt, and grief reactions.

Ectopic pregnancy. An update on technologic advances in diagnosis and treatment.

From 1970 to 1986, the number of ectopic pregnancies in the United States quadrupled. Maternal mortality rates dramatically declined, yet the risk of dying from an ectopic pregnancy is still 10 times that associated with a term delivery and 50 times that associated with a legal elective abortion. Ectopic pregnancy can be a very difficult diagnosis to make, but advances in hCG assays and transvaginal ultrasound scanning allow the diagnosis to be made in 90% of cases before rupture. Conservative surgical and medical management are associated with success rates greater than 95% and resultant pregnancy rates of approximately 60%.