The paediatric and adolescent gynaecology ATSM course syllabus below lists the minimum requirements for a course to be suitable for the theoretical component of this module. The course should last 1 day.
Any times given or descriptions of activities within a course are given for guidance and as an example only. To establish whether a course is suitable, please compare this syllabus and the syllabus of a course on offer and take advice from your ATSM Preceptor. Please also read our general guidance on ATSM courses.
The College can’t offer advice or information relating to the suitability of courses except for courses run by the RCOG or jointly run by the RCOG and specialist societies.
Course syllabus – lecture topics and timings
Disorders of development
Disorders of development (30 minutes)
- Normal embryology and genetics of sexual differentiation
- Conditions of abnormal uterine and vaginal development
- Rokitansky syndrome
- Androgen insensitivity syndrome
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Making the correct diagnosis (20 minutes)
- Assessment of ambiguous genitalia at birth
- Imaging modalities
- Endocrine assessments
- Regional networks
Psychological support for girls and families (20 minutes)
- Psychology of intersex conditions
- Understanding and coping with the diagnosis
- How health professionals and parents should disclose diagnosis
- Support for timing of surgery
Childhood problems
Common childhood gynaecological problems (30 minutes)
- How to take a history and perform appropriate clinical examination of the child
- Vaginal bleeding
- Vulvovaginitis
- Labial adhesions
Normal and abnormal puberty (30 minutes)
- Ovarian and testicular function during infancy, childhood and adolescence
- Initiation and tempo of normal puberty
- Assessment of stage of puberty (male and female)
- Causes and management of precocious puberty and delayed puberty (female only)s
Adolescent problems
Menstrual disorders and pelvic pain in adolescence (30 minutes)
- Dysmenorrhoea in teenagers – causes, diagnosis and management
- Other causes of pelvic pain
- Menorrhagia – investigation and management
- Management of ovarian cysts
Teenage pregnancy (30 minutes)
- The teenage pregnancy strategy
- Outcome and complications of teenage pregnancy
- Specialist services
Teenage contraception (30 minutes)
- Which combined oral contraceptive pill?
- Role of depot progestagens
- Barrier methods
- When should an IUCD/IUS be used?
Sexual health and child protection
Sexual abuse, child protection training (60 minutes)
- Incidence of child sexual abuse
- Diagnosis and management
- Who should be involved?
- Understanding the law
Sexually transmitted infections and HPV vaccination (30 minutes)
- Prevalence of STIs
- Screening
- Treatment
- Prevention strategies, including HPV vaccination