Clinical Skills and the Female Reproductive System

1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-394-33908-2
Verlag: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Buch, Englisch, 208 Seiten, Format (B × H): 244 mm x 170 mm, Gewicht: 406 g

Reihe: Peate's Clinical Skills

Develop essential skills for enhancing female reproductive health, ensuring accurate assessment and patient-focused treatment

Clinical Skills and the Female Reproductive System delivers a structured approach to understanding and mastering the clinical assessment and procedural skills that are essential for delivering safe, effective and compassionate care for patients with conditions affecting the female reproductive system.

Part of Peate’s Clinical Skills, a 12-book series that combines knowledge of human anatomy and physiology with practical, confident clinical skills, this volume is organised into chapters covering how to engage with patients, assessing the female reproductive system, health promotion, planning care for cervical cancer, vital signs, cervical screening, genital examinations, and specimen collection.

Clinical Skills and the Female Reproductive System equips readers with: - Clear explanations of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology relevant to the female reproductive system
- Step-by-step guidance on assessment, examination, and procedural techniques, emphasising best practice and patient safety
- Insights on interpreting findings, recognising abnormalities, and applying knowledge to guide care decisions
- Guidance on teamwork, infection prevention and control, documentation, and patient-centred care throughout clinical practice
- Strategies to explain diagnoses, treatment plans, and care procedures to patients and families, while offering emotional support

Clinical Skills and the Female Reproductive System is an essential resource for all healthcare and social care students—including those returning to practice and newly qualified practitioners—who manage patients with female reproductive conditions and seek practical ways to deliver a higher standard of care.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Peate, Ian

Fachgebiete

• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Pflege Ausbildung in der Pflege
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Vorklinische Medizin: Grundlagenfächer Anatomie
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Pflege Krankenpflege

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface viii
Acknowledgements x

1 The Anatomy and Physiology of the Female Reproductive System 1
Introduction 1
The Female Reproductive System 3
The Ovaries 3
Oogenesis and Follicular Development 4
Corpus Luteum 6
Role of Female Sex Hormones 6
The Internal Organs 8
The External Genitalia 13
The Breasts 14
The Menstrual Cycle 15
Conclusion 16
Glossary of Terms 17
Multiple Choice Questions 18
References 19

2 Engaging with Patients and Assessing the Female Reproductive System Introduction 21
Language and Its Impact on Female Reproductive Health 21
Promoting Patient-centred Communication 23
Valuing the Patient's Experience 25
Collaborative Relationships 27
Cultural Sensitivity 28
Health Literacy 29 Assessing the Female Reproductive System 31
The Patient History 33
Physical Examination 39
Tests and Investigations 44
Vital Signs and Other Observations 45
Clinical Judgement and Communication 45
Documentation and Interpretation of Findings 46
Conclusion 46
Glossary of Terms 47
Multiple Choice Questions 48
References 49

3 Health Promotion Introduction 51
Health Promotion 52
Biopsychosocial Model and Reproductive Health 54
Inclusive and Culturally Safe Practice 59
Public Health Approaches 60
Common Female Reproductive Health Conditions 63
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Prevention 64
The Role of Those Providing Care and Support 66
Supporting Behaviour Change in Reproductive Health 68
Digital Health 69
Conclusion 70
Glossary of Terms 71
Multiple Choice Questions 72
References 73

4 Planning Care: Cervical Cancer Introduction 76
Cervical Cancer 76
Prevalence and Demographics 79
Types of Cervical Cancer 80
Pathophysiology of Cervical Cancer 81
Patterns of Spread 82
Clinical Staging 82
Overview of Cervical Cancer 83
Cervical Cancer and Systemic Illness 84
Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer 86
Diagnosing Cervical Cancer 89
Communicating the Diagnosis 90
Planning Individualised Care 91
Digital Tools 93
Management of Cervical Cancer 93
Care Considerations 95
Side Effects and Late Effects 96
Psychosocial Support 96
End-of-life Care Planning 96
Survivorship Care and Secondary Prevention 97
Promoting Equality 97
Conclusion 97
Glossary of Terms 98
Multiple Choice Questions 99
References 100

5 Vital Signs Introduction 102
Vital Signs in Context 102
Clinical Decision-making in Practice 104
Clinical Reasoning Cycle 104
Core Vital Signs 106
Hormonal and Endocrine Dynamics 107
Vital Signs Across Life Stages 110
Menopause 112
Transgender and Non-binary People 112
Clinical Considerations 113
Chronic Reproductive Conditions 113
Long-term Contraceptive Use 114
Technology and Future Directions 115
Conclusion 116
Glossary of Terms 116
Multiple Choice Questions 117
References 119

6 Cervical Screening Introduction 121
Cervical Screening 121
Obtaining Informed Consent 124
The Procedure 129
Communication 133
Interpretation of Results 134
Post-procedure Care 136
Conclusion 163
Responding to Concerns 137
Conclusion 138
Glossary of Terms 138
Multiple Choice Questions 139
References 141

7 Female Genital Examination 143
Introduction 143
Gender-affirming Care 144
Genital Examinations and Role Development 145
Rationale for Performing Genital Examinations 146
Professional Issues 146
Patient Autonomy and Advocacy 147
Confidentiality and Privacy 147
Chaperones 148
Infection Prevention and Control 149
Professional Communication 149
The Care Environment 150
The Procedures 152
External Genital (Vulval) Examination 154
Speculum Examination 154
Bimanual Vaginal Examination 156
Transvaginal Ultrasound 160
Transvaginal Ultrasound for Patients Without a History of Penetrative Sex 160
Female Genital Mutilation and Genital Examinations 162
Glossary of Terms 163
Multiple Choice Questions 165
References 166

8 Specimen Collection 168
Introduction 168
Principles of Safe and Effective Specimen Collection 168
Communicating Effectively 172
Vaginal Specimen Collection 174
Key Notes 174
Cervical Screening 174
Uterine and Endometrial Specimen Collection 174
Risks and Contraindications 176
Urine and Non-invasive Specimens 177
Vulval and External Genital Specimens 179
Documentation, Transport and Chain of Custody 180
Ethical and Legal Considerations 181
Conclusion 182
Glossary of Terms 183
Multiple Choice Questions 184
References 185

MCQ Answers 188
Index 189

Über Autor(innen)

IAN PEATE is a Visiting Professor at Northumbria University and Buckinghamshire New University and a Senior Clinical Fellow at the University of Hertfordshire. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Nursing, and Consultant Editor of the Journal of Paramedic Practice and the International Journal of Advancing Practice.