Question

Give a brief description how you would assess the reproductive system of a male or female patient, young adult, middle age, or older patient (choose).You may only cover one aspect of the assessment.

Answer 1

Assessment of Female Reproductive system of middle-age women:

• Take a detailed history of menstrual irregularities, hot flushes because the patient is in the menopausal stage.
• Collect a detailed history of sexual function, hormonal therapy.
• Assess the nipples for color, discharge, ulceration, tenderness.
• Assess the axilla for the presence of any nodes, tenderness, enlargement.
• Before assessing the reproductive system of female, advise her to empty the bladder.
• Make the patient lie in the lithotomy position and provide adequate privacy.
• Examine the external genitalia for hair distribution, the color of skin, Labia majora, prepuce length and width, and urethral orifices.
• Examine the cervix color, shape, and secretions. Cervix may decrease in size as age increases.
• Examine the vaginal length, odor, and secretions. Vaginal length may slightly decrease in size because of age.
• Palpate the uterus at the level of the pelvis for size and shape. The cancerous uterus becomes hard to palpable.
• Assess for uterus inversion or eversion.
• Palpate the labia majora and labia minora and examine the cervix for protruding into the vagina.
• Assess the cervix for ulcerations, mass, nodules, and polyps.
• Asses for any hemorrhage or spots. spots indicate trichomonal infection.