Here is a comprehensive, structured guide to HOPI (History of Presenting Illness) questions in obstetric history taking, covering any complaint a pregnant patient may present with.
Obstetric History Taking: HOPI for Any Complaint
1. Opening / Chief Complaint
Start with open questions:
- "What brings you in today?"
- "What is your main concern?"
- "Can you tell me more about what you've been experiencing?"
Allow the patient to speak without interruption, then clarify.
2. History of Presenting Complaint — SOCRATES
For any symptom the patient describes (pain, bleeding, discharge, swelling, headache, etc.), explore using SOCRATES:
| Letter | Question |
|---|
| S – Site | Where exactly is the symptom? (e.g., where is the pain/bleeding?) |
| O – Onset | When did it start? Was it sudden or gradual? |
| C – Character | What is it like? (e.g., sharp, dull, crampy, colicky; bright red vs. dark blood) |
| R – Radiation | Does it spread or move anywhere? |
| A – Associations | Any other symptoms alongside it? (e.g., fever, dizziness, vomiting, discharge, reduced fetal movement) |
| T – Timing | Is it constant or intermittent? Getting better or worse? |
| E – Exacerbating/Relieving factors | What makes it worse or better? |
| S – Severity | On a scale of 0–10, how severe is it? How does it affect your daily activities? |
3. Obstetric-Specific Symptom Screen (HOPI Expansion)
After SOCRATES, ask these focused pregnancy-related questions regardless of the complaint, as they contextualise risk and differential diagnosis:
A. Key Pregnancy Details
- What is your gestational age (weeks)?
- What is your Last Menstrual Period (LMP)?
- What is your Expected Date of Delivery (EDD)?
- Was the pregnancy planned or unplanned?
- Was it a spontaneous or assisted conception (IVF, ovulation induction)?
- Have you had any ultrasound scans this pregnancy? What did they show?
- Are you certain of your dates?
B. Antenatal Course So Far
- When did you first notice the pregnancy (pregnancy test, amenorrhoea)?
- Have you attended regular antenatal visits? Any missed?
- Are you taking folic acid / prenatal vitamins / iron?
- Have you had any antenatal screening tests (Down's syndrome, anomaly scan, OGTT, etc.)? Results?
- Have you had any admissions or complications during this pregnancy?
C. Pregnancy-Specific Symptoms to Screen For
Regardless of the presenting complaint, ask about:
| Symptom | Screening Question |
|---|
| Nausea/Vomiting | Any nausea or vomiting? Severity? Ability to keep fluids down? |
| Vaginal Bleeding | Any bleeding PV? Amount, colour (fresh red vs. dark), clots, passage of tissue? |
| Vaginal Discharge / Fluid Loss | Any watery, mucoid, or offensive discharge? Did you feel a gush of fluid (PROM)? |
| Fetal Movements | Are you feeling the baby move? Normal frequency? Any reduction? |
| Contractions / Uterine Tightenings | Any tightenings or contractions? How frequent? How long? Painful? |
| Headache / Visual Disturbance | Any headaches, blurred vision, flashing lights, or floaters? |
| Epigastric / RUQ Pain | Any pain under the ribs on the right side? (Pre-eclampsia/HELLP) |
| Swelling (Oedema) | Any swelling of the hands, face, or legs? When did it start? |
| Urinary Symptoms | Dysuria, frequency, haematuria? (UTI/pyelonephritis risk) |
| Bowel Changes | Constipation, diarrhoea? |
| Shortness of Breath / Chest Pain | Any breathing difficulty, palpitations, or chest tightness? |
| Pruritus | Any generalised itching, especially palms and soles (obstetric cholestasis)? |
| Seizures / Fainting | Any fits, blackouts, or loss of consciousness? |
4. The "TMO IS U" Mnemonic (for Focused Obstetric HOPI)
A structured mnemonic used in case presentations:
| Letter | Stands For |
|---|
| T | Time of onset / Trimester |
| M | Menstrual history (LMP, cycle regularity) |
| O | Obstetric history (gravida/parity) |
| I | Investigation results (USS, bloods, screening) |
| S | Symptoms of current complaint |
| U | Urgency / red flags present? |
5. Past Obstetric History — GTPAL System
For every obstetric patient, establish the GTPAL (or G/P with FPAL):
- G – Gravida: Total number of pregnancies (including current)
- T – Term: Pregnancies delivered ≥ 37 weeks
- P – Preterm: Deliveries 20–36+6 weeks
- A – Abortions: Miscarriages or terminations before 20 weeks (including ectopic, molar)
- L – Living children: Number of currently living children
For each previous pregnancy, ask:
- Year and gestation at delivery
- Mode of delivery (NVD, instrumental, LSCS — and reason if CS)
- Birth weight and sex
- Fetal/neonatal outcome (alive and well, NICU admission, stillbirth)
- Complications: pre-eclampsia, GDM, APH, PPH, IUGR, congenital anomalies
- Any previous caesarean — type of uterine incision?
6. Maternal Medical History
- Chronic conditions: Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, autoimmune diseases (SLE, APS), cardiac disease, thyroid disease, epilepsy, asthma, renal disease
- Previous VTE (DVT/PE) or thrombophilia
- Previous surgeries (especially pelvic/gynaecological, including cervical procedures)
- Current medications — including over-the-counter, herbal, supplements
- Allergies
7. Menstrual & Gynaecological History
- LMP and regularity of cycles
- Previous gynaecological conditions: fibroids, PCOS, endometriosis, cervical dysplasia
- Previous STIs / PID
- Contraceptive history (especially IUCD — was it removed prior to pregnancy?)
- Last Pap smear / cervical screening result
8. Family History
- Diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, thromboembolic disease in first-degree relatives
- Genetic conditions, chromosomal abnormalities, consanguinity
- Recurrent miscarriages or stillbirths in the family
- Congenital anomalies
9. Social History
- Smoking — number of cigarettes/day, current or ex-smoker
- Alcohol — units per week
- Recreational drug use (including cannabis)
- Occupation — any occupational hazards or teratogenic exposures?
- Partner/relationship status and support at home
- Housing situation
- Domestic violence screening (ask sensitively and alone): "Do you ever feel unsafe at home?"
- Significant stressors or mental health concerns (anxiety, depression, previous perinatal mental health history)
10. Systems Review (Relevant to Pregnancy)
Briefly screen:
- Cardiovascular: palpitations, orthopnoea, PND, syncope
- Respiratory: cough, wheeze, dyspnoea
- Neurological: headache, visual changes, paraesthesiae
- Urological: dysuria, haematuria, loin pain
- Gastrointestinal: heartburn (very common), nausea, constipation
Key Red Flags — Escalate Immediately If Present
| Red Flag | Consider |
|---|
| Severe headache + visual disturbance + oedema | Pre-eclampsia / eclampsia |
| Heavy PV bleeding + abdominal pain | Abruption / placenta praevia |
| Sudden gush of fluid | PPROM / PROM |
| Reduced or absent fetal movements | Fetal compromise |
| Generalised itching (palms/soles) + no rash | Obstetric cholestasis |
| Seizure in pregnancy | Eclampsia |
| Unilateral leg swelling + shortness of breath | DVT / PE |
| Severe vomiting + inability to keep fluids | Hyperemesis gravidarum |
Sources: Creasy & Resnik's
Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice (7th ed.); Berek & Novak's
Gynecology (16th ed.);
Geeky Medics Obstetric History Guide; AMBOSS
OB/GYN History & Examination