The menstrual history component of an Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) requires the candidate to elicit relevant information about a patient’s menstruation to inform diagnosis and management. This involves asking specific, targeted inquiries to gather a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s menstrual patterns, any associated symptoms, and potential underlying medical conditions. The purpose is to obtain data related to menarche, cycle length, duration of flow, amount of flow, associated pain (dysmenorrhea), intermenstrual bleeding, postcoital bleeding, and any changes in these patterns over time. An example would be, “Can you describe your typical menstrual cycle, including the date of your last period, how often you get your period, and how long it usually lasts?”
A detailed menstrual history is crucial because menstrual irregularities can be indicative of a range of gynecological and systemic disorders. This information enables the physician to assess hormonal imbalances, identify potential causes of infertility, diagnose bleeding disorders, and evaluate for structural abnormalities within the reproductive system. Accurately obtaining this history allows for appropriate investigations and the formulation of an effective management plan. Historically, understanding a woman’s menstrual cycle has been a cornerstone of reproductive health assessment, with evolving methods for documenting and interpreting menstrual patterns.
