CONTRACEPTION Flashcards
What ways can combined hormonal contraception be given?
Pill
Transdermal patch
Vaginal ring
What ways can progesterone-only contraception be given?
Pill
Implant
Injectable
What are the 2 options for intrauterine contraception?
Copper IUD
Levonorgestrel IUS “mirena”
Sterilisation options?
Vasectomy for men
Tubal occlusion for women
What is long-acting reversible contraception and what are the options?
Contraception methods that require administration less than once per cycle or once a month
Progestogen-only injectable
Progestogen only implant
Copper IUD
LNG-IUS
What is emergency contraception?
What are the options?
An intervention aimed at preventing unintended pregnancy after unprotected sexual interior use or contraceptive failure
Oral levonorgestrel “levonelle”
Oral ullipristal acetate “ellaOne”
Copper IUD
What can be used as “bridging contraception”?
CHC - except co-cyprindiol
POP
Progestogen-only implant
Progestogen-only injectable - only considered if other options are not available or unsuitable
Most effective contraception methods?
Progestogen-only implant
Male sterilisation
LNG-IUS
Female sterilisation
CU-IUD
(In order from most to least but all >99% effective)
What is UKMEC?
UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use
How should I assess a woman requesting contraception?
Exclude pregnancy
Identify any factors that may affect contraception choice e.g. comorbidities, allergies, lifestyle factors, reproductive history, drug treatment, age
Check UKMEC if relevant
Assess risk of STIs
Carry out a risk assessment for sexual abuse, rape and non-consensual sex
Fraser criteria?
In England and Wales, it is lawful to provide contraceptive advice and treatment to young people without parental consent, provided that the practitioner is satisfied that the Fraser criteria for competence are met. The criteria are that:
- The young person understands the practitioner’s advice.
- The young person cannot be persuaded to inform their parents, or will not allow the practitioner to inform the parents, that contraceptive advice has been sought.
- The young person is likely to begin or to continue having intercourse with or without contraceptive treatment.
- Unless he or she receives contraceptive advice or treatment, the young person’s physical or mental health are likely to suffer.
- The young person’s best interest requires the practitioner to give contraceptive advice or treatment without parental consent.
Which contraception should not be started in women with abnormal vaginal bleeding?
Consider additional investigation for IUC insertion
Dont use progestogen-only implant and progestogen-only injectable
What contraception type should not be used with fibroids and known distortion of the uterine cavity?
Intrauterine coils should not be used
What contraception methods should not be started in a woman with PID?
Intrauterine methods - although if already inserted then its ok to leave them
What methods of contraception should not be used in women with chlamydia or gonorrhoea infection?
Intrauterine devices - note its ok to leave it if already implanted at time of infection
What contraception should not be used in women with DM and nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy or any other vascular disease?
CHC
What contraception is contraindicated in migraines with aura?
Why?
CHC - small increased risk of stroke
What contraception should not be used in women with multiple risk factors for CVD?
CHC
Progestogen-only injectables
What contraception should be avoided in women with a BMI of 35 or more?
CHC
What contraception should you avoid for women with hypertensin?
CHC
Progestogen-only injection IF vascular disease too
What methods of contraception should you avoid in women with a history of VTE?
CHC - even if FHx or any immobility
What methods of contraception should not be used in women of any age who smoke?
CHC if 15 cigs or more, or any amount and over 35
When can intrauterine contraception be started in the postpartum period?
<48 hrs postpartum
Or over 4 weeks postpartum
When can combined hormonal contraception be started in the postpartum period?
From 3 weeks if not breastfeeding and no additional risk factors for VTE
From 6 weeks if breastfeeding
Contraception in patients who have had a gastric sleeve, bypass or duodenal switch?
Can never have oral contraception again, including emergency contraception due to lack of efficayc
Outline the UKMEC levels
UKMEC1 - no restriction in use
UKMEC2 - benefits generally outweigh the risks
UKMEC3 - risks generally outweigh the benefits
UKMEC4 - unacceptable risk i.e. contraindicated
What method of contraception is 100% effective?
Complete abstinence
Effectiveness of combined oral contraceptive pill?
With perfect use of>99%
But with average use 91%
Best hormonal contraception itions for women with breast cancer
Copper coil and barrier methods
Which contraception should you avoid in cervical or endometrial cancer?
IUS
Risk factors for CCH?
Examples of UKMEC 3 conditions include:
>35 years old and smoking <15 cigarettes/day
BMI >35 kg/m^2*
FHx of thromboembolic disease in first degree relatives < 45 years
controlled hypertension
immobility e.g. wheel chair use
carrier of known gene mutations associated with breast cancer (e.g. BRCA1/BRCA2)
current gallbladder disease
Diabetes mellitus diagnosed >20 years ago
Examples of UKMEC 4 conditions include:
>35 years old and smoking >15 cigarettes/day
migraine with aura
history of thromboembolic disease or thrombogenic mutation
PMHx of stroke or IHD
breast feeding < 6 weeks post-partum
uncontrolled hypertension
current breast cancer
major surgery with prolonged immobilisation
positive antiphospholipid antibodies (e.g. in SLE)
How does the combined oral contraceptive pill work?
Inhibits ovulation as they suppress the release of LH and FSH
Some secondary actions:
Progesterone thickens cervical mucus
Progesterone inhibits endometrial proliferation, reducing the chance of successful implantation
Why are intrauterine coils UKMEC2 in women under 20?
They may have a higher rate of expulsion
Effectiveness of condoms?
98% effective with perfect use
82% effective with typical use
What condoms can be used in a latex allergy?
Polyurethane condoms
How do diaphragms and cervical caps work?
silicone cups that fit over the cervix and prevent semen from entering the uterus. The woman fits them before having sex, and leaves them in place for at least 6 hours after sex. They should be used with spermicide gel the further reduce the risk of pregnancy
What are dental dams?
Latex or polyurethane sheets used between the mouth and vagina/anus during oral sex
Benefits of COCP?
Usually makes period sregular, lighter and less painful
Reduces risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer and these effects may last for several decades after cessation
Reduced risk of colorectal cancer
May protect against PID
May reduce ovarian cysts, benign breast disease and acne vulgaris
Risks of COCP?
Forgetting to take it
No protection against STIs
Increased risk of VTE
Increased risk of breast and cervical cancer
Increased risk of stroke and IHD
Possible SE of COCP?
Headache
Nausea
Breast tenderness
Some users report weight gain but Cochrane review did not support this
COCP and concurrent antibiotic use?
Recent change to no need to use extra protection
Precautions should still be taken with enzyme-inducing antibiotics e.g. rifampicin
When do you require additional contraception when starting COCP?
If you start at any point in the cycle other than the first 5 days then you require additional contraception for the first 7 days
How should the COCP be taken?
Take at the same time every day
Conventionally taken for 21 days and then stopped for 7 days but it was realised there was no medical benefit from having a withdrawal bleed
Options include never having a pill-free interval or ‘tricycling’ - taking 3 x 21 day packs back to back before having a 4-7 day break
Situations where efficacy of the COCP may be reduced?
If vomiting within 2 hours of taking COCP
Medication that induces diarrhoea or vomiting e.g. orlistat
If taking lover enzyme-inducing drugs
What should you advise a woman to do if 1 COCP is missed at any time in the cycle?
Take the last pill even if it means taking 2 pills in 1 days and then continue taking 1 pill a day
No additional contraception protection is required
What should you advise a woman to do if 2 or more COCPs are missed at any time in the cycle?
Take the last pill even if it means taking 2 pills in 1 day, leave any earlier missed pills, and then continue taking 1 pill a day
Use condoms or abstain from sex until she has taken pills for 7 days in a row
If pills are missed in week 1 - emergency contraception if had intercourse
In week 2 - ok after 7 consecutive days of taking COCP
Week 3 - finish current pack and start new pack the next day i.e. skip pill-free interval
What does microgynon contain?
Ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel
What does loestrin contain?
Ethinylestradiol and norethisterone
What does cilest COCP contain?
Ethinylestradiol and norgestimate
What does Yasmin COCP contain?
Ethinylestradiol and drospirenone
What does marvelon COCP contain?
Ethinylestradiol and desogestrel
First line COCP choice? And why?
A pill containing levonorgestrel or norethisterone e.g. microphone or leostrin
This is because they have a lower risk of VTE
Which COCP is considered first line for premenstrual syndrome? Why?
Yasmin as it contains drospirenone
Drospirenone has anti-mineralocorticoid and anti-androgen activity and may help with symptoms of bloating, water retention and mood changes
(May be more effective if used continually rather than cyclically)
Which COCP is good for treatment of acne and hirsutism e.g. in PCOS?
Why?
How long is it used for and why?
COCPs containing cyproterone acetate (“co-cyprindiol) e.g. dianette
Cyproterone acetate has anti-androgen effects
Usually only used for 3 months after acne is controlled as it has nearly 2x risk of VTE than other COCP
Side efefcts of COCP?
Unscheduled bleeding - common for first 3 months
Breast pain and tenderness
Mood changes and depression
Headaches
When should you stop COCP before surgery?
4 weeks before any major operation or any aperation that requires lower limb to be immobilised
To reduce thrombosis risk
A progestogen-only contraceptive may be offered as an alternative and the oestrogen-containing contraceptive restarted after mobilisation.
What is the only UKMEC4 for the POP?
Active breast cancer
What are the 2 types of progesterone-only pills?
Why is this relevant
Traditional POP e.g. norgeston or noriday
Desogestrel-only pill e.g. cerazette
Traditional POP cannot be called by more than 3 hours or it is considered a missed pill
Deogestrel-only pill can be taken up to 12 hours late and still be effective!
How do traditional POPs work?
They thicken the cervical mucus, alter the endometrium to make it less accepting of implantation and reduce ciliary action in the fallopian tubes
How does desogestrel-only pill work?
Inhibits ovulation
Thickens cervical mucus
Alters the endometrium
Reduces ciliary action in fallopian tubes
When starting the POP do you need additional contraception?
If you start it day 1-5 of menstrual cycle woman is immediately protected
If started any other time then additional contraception is required for 48 hours to allow cervical mucus to thicken enough to prevent sperm enterin the uterus
Switching between POPs
Can be switched immediately without need for any extra contraception
Switching from COCP to POP?
Immediately without additional contraception if they have taken the COCP consistently for >7 days or are on days 1-2 of the hormone-free period following a full pack of COCP
Otherwise it depends on whether they have had unprotected sex. If they have not since day 3 of the hormone-free period then they can start POP but require additional contraception for the first 48 hours. If they have had protected sex since day 3 of hormone-free period they should take COCP until they have taken 7 days consecutively and then they can switch over without any additional requimrent
Why is the woman not protected from pregnancy if she has unprotected sex on day 3 or later of the hormone-free period after taking COCP and then starts POP?
The POP does not reliably prevent ovulation and works mainly by thickening the cervical mucous. Sperm can live for 5 days in the uterus.
This means sperm can enter the uterus and live there for 5 days (until the 8th day after finishing the COCP). Taking the POP during this time will make no difference to the sperm already in the uterus, as they are already past the cervix. Then, if the woman ovulates on the 8th day after finishing the COCP, those sperm are there waiting to fertilise the egg.
Side effects of POP?
Unscheduled bleeding. Common for first 3 months - if longer then look for another cause
Breast tenderness
Headaches
Acne
How does POP typically affect periods?
20% have amenorrhoea
40% have regular bleeding
40% have irregular, prolonged or troublesome bleeding
What does POP increase the risk of?
Ovarian cysts
Small risk of ectopic pregnancy with traditional POPs (not desogestrel) due to reduce ciliary action in the tubes
Minimal increased risk of breast cancer, returning to normal ten years after stopping