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UPSC CMSE Gynecology and Obstetrics Flashcards
67 question-and-answer cards covering Gynecology and Obstetrics as it is examined in UPSC CMSE. 24 of them are printed below, taken from across the deck — no signup, no paywall on the preview.
24 sample cards from the Gynecology and Obstetrics deck
Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.
Which type of uterine fibroid most commonly causes heavy menstrual bleeding and infertility?
Submucosal fibroids, because they distort the endometrial cavity.
What is the most common type of physiologic ovarian cyst, and what is its typical course?
Functional cysts — follicular and corpus luteum cysts; they are usually benign and resolve spontaneously within a few menstrual cycles.
What is the gravest acute complication of an ovarian cyst and its hallmark symptom?
Ovarian torsion — sudden severe unilateral lower abdominal pain (a surgical emergency); rupture causing hemoperitoneum is another acute complication.
What is the most common gynecologic cancer, and which is the most lethal, in many populations?
Endometrial (uterine) cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy; ovarian cancer is the most lethal due to late detection.
Which virus causes most cervical cancers, and what is the key screening test?
Human papillomavirus (HPV), especially types 16 and 18; the Pap smear (cervical cytology) with HPV testing is the key screening tool.
What tumor marker is commonly elevated in epithelial ovarian cancer?
CA-125.
How is infertility clinically defined?
Failure to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse (6 months if the woman is 35 years or older).
What is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility in women of reproductive age?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
What are the Rotterdam criteria for diagnosing PCOS?
At least 2 of 3: oligo-/anovulation, clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries on ultrasound (12 or more follicles or ovarian volume greater than 10 mL), after excluding other causes.
What is the first-line ovulation induction agent in PCOS-related infertility?
Letrozole (an aromatase inhibitor) is now first-line; clomiphene citrate is an alternative.
How is menopause clinically defined?
The permanent cessation of menstruation confirmed after 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea (average age around 51 years).
What hormonal changes characterize menopause?
Markedly decreased estrogen with elevated FSH and LH due to loss of negative feedback from ovarian follicular depletion.
Name three common symptoms of menopause.
Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes/night sweats), vaginal dryness/atrophy, and mood or sleep disturbances; long-term effects include osteoporosis.
When is combined (estrogen plus progestogen) HRT used rather than estrogen-only, and why?
Combined HRT is used in women with an intact uterus; the progestogen protects the endometrium from estrogen-induced hyperplasia and cancer. Estrogen-only HRT is used after hysterectomy.
Name two major risks associated with hormone replacement therapy.
Increased risk of venous thromboembolism and breast cancer (with combined HRT); estrogen-only HRT raises endometrial cancer risk if the uterus is present.
Which contraceptive method is the most effective reversible method available?
Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) — intrauterine devices and the subdermal implant (failure rates under 1%).
What is the primary mechanism of action of combined oral contraceptive pills?
Suppression of ovulation by inhibiting the LH surge and FSH (via negative feedback), plus thickening cervical mucus and thinning the endometrium.
Name two absolute contraindications to combined oral contraceptive pills.
History of venous thromboembolism and migraine with aura; others include active breast cancer, uncontrolled hypertension, and smoking over age 35.
What is the mechanism of action of the levonorgestrel and the copper intrauterine devices?
Copper IUD: copper is spermicidal and prevents fertilization/implantation; levonorgestrel IUD: thickens cervical mucus, thins endometrium, and partially suppresses ovulation.
Within what time frames are the levonorgestrel pill and the copper IUD effective as emergency contraception?
Levonorgestrel emergency pill within 72 hours (up to 120 with reduced efficacy); copper IUD within 5 days and is the most effective emergency method.
What is in vitro fertilization (IVF) and its basic sequence of steps?
An assisted reproductive technique where eggs are retrieved after controlled ovarian stimulation, fertilized with sperm in the laboratory, and the resulting embryo(s) transferred into the uterus.
What is the difference between IUI and IVF?
IUI (intrauterine insemination) places washed sperm directly into the uterus around ovulation for in vivo fertilization; IVF fertilizes the egg outside the body in the lab before embryo transfer.
What is ICSI and when is it primarily indicated?
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection — a single sperm is injected directly into an oocyte; primarily indicated for severe male-factor infertility.
What is the most significant complication of controlled ovarian stimulation in ART?
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), characterized by enlarged ovaries, fluid shifts, ascites, and risk of thromboembolism.
What this deck covers
The Gynecology and Obstetrics deck follows the UPSC CMSE Gynecology and Obstetrics syllabus — 3 chapters and 18 topics — so questions land on material that is genuinely examinable rather than trivia around it. That works out to roughly 22.3 cards per chapter.
Answers are written to be recallable, not just readable — averaging about 133 characters, which is long enough to carry the reasoning and short enough to say out loud.
A deck like this earns its keep on the second and third pass. Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then use the cards to find the specific facts that have not stuck.
Gynecology and Obstetrics flashcards FAQ
How many Gynecology and Obstetrics flashcards are in this UPSC CMSE deck?
67 cards. This page previews 24 of them, sampled evenly across the deck so you can judge the difficulty before installing anything.
Are these UPSC CMSE flashcards free?
Yes. The preview here is free to read with no signup, and the full 67-card deck is free inside the Examius app.
What do the Gynecology and Obstetrics cards cover?
They follow the UPSC CMSE Gynecology and Obstetrics syllabus — 3 chapters and 18 topics — so the questions track what is actually examinable.
How should I use these flashcards?
Read the syllabus first so you know the shape of the subject, then drill the deck. Examius schedules each card with spaced repetition, so cards you keep missing come back sooner and ones you know drift further apart.