CC#3: General Approaches to Medical Management of Menstrual Suppression Flashcards
Definition of menstrual suppression
Use of hormonal meds to decrease frequency/volume of physiologic menses (in some cases achieving amenorrhea)
General goal of menstrual suppression
Reduction in amount and total days of menstrual flow
Do hormonal methods used to suppress menses affect future fertility; do hormonal methods used to suppress menses increase risk of cancer?
No; no (continuous combined OCPs may actually decrease risk of certain cancers)
Point of withdrawal bleeding during placebo week of traditional OCP dosing
Purely to mimic more “natural” cycle, not necessary for health
Available formulations of COCs that can be given continuously (2)
Monophasic formulation (w/ discarding/omitting placebo week and starting immediately w/ next pack on Day 22), extended-cycle formulation
Over how many consecutive cycles is it safe to omit the placebo week of a COC pack?
Indefinitely
Comparing standard-cycle COCs to extended-cycle COCs, which method has better contraceptive efficacy and safety?
Methods are comparable
Limitations to continuous-dosing COCs (2)
BTB, hormonal adverse effects
Percentage of pts on continuous COCs reporting amenorrhea at 2 months; at 6 months; at 12 months
49%; 68%; 88%
Advantages of continuous-dosing COCs compared to other menstrual suppression options (2)
Long hx of provider/pt experience; higher doses (ie >20mcg EE) result in less BTB
Disadvantages of continuous-dosing COCs compared to other menstrual suppression options (2)
Daily compliance, variable duration of menstrual suppression before BTB (though sxs improve w/ successive cycles)
Strategies to manage BTB on continuous-dosing OCPs (4)
Counseling that BTB decreases w/ each successive cycle, can consider cyclic cycles x3-6 months then transition to extended cycles, can attempt hormone-free interval for 3-4 consecutive days, can supplement w/ intermittent estrogen
Benefits of extended-regimen CHC patch over standard-regimen CHC patch (3)
Fewer median bleeding days, fewer bleeding episodes, fewer spotting episodes
How to take CHC patch continuously
Apply every week (no patch-free week)
Limitations to continuous CHC patch (3)
BTB, hormonal adverse effects, skin reaction
General amenorrhea rates on extended-cycle of CHC patch
Moderate (on 6mg norelgestromin + 0.75mcg EE patch)
Advantage of continuous CHC patch compared to other menstrual suppression options
Weekly compliance (easier than daily OCPs)
Disadvantages of continuous CHC patch compared to other menstrual suppression options (2)
Limited data, patch adherence
How to use Nuvaring continuously
Place monthly (w/ immediate replacement following removal and w/o ring-free week)
Limitations to continuous Nuvaring (2)
BTB, hormonal adverse effects
General amenorrhea rates on extended-use regimen of Nuvaring
Excellent (using 0.12mg etonogestrel + 0.015mg EE w/ avoidance of any ring-free interval)
Advantage of continuous-dosing Nuvaring compared to other menstrual suppression options
Compliance (easier than daily/weekly methods)
Disadvantage of continuous-dosing Nuvaring compared to other menstrual suppression options
Higher discontinuation rates 2/2 BTB (although bleeding days are reduced w/ extended cycling, spotting days increased)
Commonly available formulations of POPs that can be used for menstrual suppression (2)
Norethindrone acetate 5mg BID-TID, Provera
MoA of POPs in developing menstrual suppression
Endometrial atrophy
Limitations to continuous-regimen POPs (3)
Irregular bleeding, progestin-related adverse effects, adverse effects on lipids
General amenorrhea rates w/ norethindrone 0.35mg daily; amenorrhea rates w/ norethindrone acetate 5mg daily
Low (discontinuation rate up to 48.5% at 1 year); 76% (menstrual irregularity improves w/ more prolonged use)
Advantages of continuous-dose POPs compared to other menstrual suppression options (2)
Availability for pts in whom estrogen is contraindicated, adjustable oral dosing
Disadvantages of continuous-dose POPs compared to other menstrual suppression options (3)
Inconsistent achievement of amenorrhea, more expensive than COCs, need for consistent/strict adherence 2/2 narrow therapeutic window (return to baseline hormonal levels within 24h of administration)
Strategies to manage BTB when using continuous-dose POPs (3)
Inconsistent achievement of amenorrhea, more expensive than COCs, need for consistent/strict adherence 2/2 narrow therapeutic window (return to baseline hormonal levels within 24h of administration)
Depo formulations (2)
150mg IM shot, 104mg subQ shot; both methods given q11-13 weeks
Limitations of Depo shot when used for menstrual suppression (4)
BTB, progestin-related adverse effects, weight gain, reversible effect on BMD w/ use >2 years