Contraception Flashcards
What do ovulation kits test for?
LH and are positive if LH is present
How long is the normal menstrual cycle?
23 - 35 days (average 28 days)
What happens pre-ovulation (before day 14)?
FSH is dominant
What happens post-ovulation (after day 14)?
Theres a LH surge from day 14
What indicates a positive pregnancy test?
If hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is present in urine
What supplement should all women of child-bearing age be on?
Folic acid supplement 400-800 mcg/day
What’s the purpose of taking Folic acid supplement (400-800 mcg/day)?
To help prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord (neural tube defects)
At least how long should a woman be on Folic acid before she conceives? Why?
At least 1 month before pregnancy
Bcuz it takes time to build up adequate body stores
Name the main types of hormonal contraceptive
Progestins-only pills (POPs) - pill or injectable
Estrogen and progestin combinations oral contraceptives (COCs) - pills or patch or ring
Which contraceptive is recommended for breast-feeding mothers? Why?
POPs
Estrogen reduces milk production
List the various indications of COCs
Pregnancy prevention
Dysmenorrhea
PMS
Perimenopausal sx (hot flashes, night sweat)
Anemia due to excessive period-related blood loss
Acne (in females)
Premenstrual migraine
In what type of migraine is POPs preferred over COCs? Why?
In migraines with aura
Estrogen increases the risk of stroke, t4 POPs is preferred
SEs due to estrogen (COCs issue only)?
Nausea
Breast tenderness/fullness
Bloating
Weight gain
Elevated BP
Which SE due to estrogen is most bothersome? What can be done to alleviate it?
Nausea
They may take pill in the evening or at bedtime
Severe SEs of estrogen?
Thrombogenic disorders, including heart attack, stroke, DVT/PE
What other factors, other than estrogen increases a woman’s risk for clotting disorders?
Age
Smoking
Diabetes / HTN
Prolonged bed rest
Overweight
What should be avoided in at-risk women?
Progestin drospirenone (present in YAZ YASMIN Gianvi Ocellated Safyral Syeda Zarah Beyaz as well as Ortho Evra patch)
List the conditions that u should not use any form of estrogen in?
Hx of blood clot disorder (DVT/PE)
Hx of stroke or heart attack
Heart valve dx with complications
Severe HTN
Diabetes that causes blood vessel problems
Poorly controlled diabetes
Severe headaches
Recent major surgery with prolonged bed rest
Breast cancer
Liver cancer or dx
Uterine cancer /other known /suspected estrogen-dependent cancers
Unexplained abnormal bleeding from the uterus
Jaundice during pregnancy or jaundice with prior hormonal contra use
Known or possible pregnancy
If older than 35 yrs + smoke > 15 cigarette/day
SEs of POPs?
Breast tenderness
Fatigue
Changes in mood
What other factors do u consider for clotting risk?
Higher estrogen dose, higher clotting risk
Drospirenone-containing birth control pills may be ass with a higher risk for blood clots than other progestin-containing pills
Ortho Evra patch: higher systemic estrogen exposure than most COC pills
If a woman is breastfeeding, what type of hormonal contraceptive would u recommend? (Formulation considerations)
POPs
If a woman has elevated clotting risk, what type of hormonal contraceptive would u recommend? (Formulation considerations)
Lower dose estrogen content
Progestin-only pill
If a woman has estrogen CI, include clotting risk, what type of hormonal contraceptive would u recommend? (Formulation considerations)
POPs
If a woman experiences Estrogenic side effects, what type of hormonal contraceptive would u recommend? (Formulation considerations)
Low estrogen formulation
If a woman is Spotting/Breakthrough Bleeding, what type of hormonal contraceptive would u recommend? (Formulation considerations)
Wait 3 cycles before switching (bleeding more common with Seasonale, Seasonique and Lybrel)
Use higher estrogen and progestin if mid-cycle bleeding persist
If a woman is Avoiding Monthly Cycle, what type of hormonal contraceptive would u recommend? (Formulation considerations)
Longer formulation - Seasonale or Seasonique (Q3 months)
Continuous - Lybrel
If a woman has fluid retention/bloating, what type of hormonal contraceptive would u recommend? (Formulation considerations)
Product containing Drospirenone (if low clotting risk)
Progestine is a mild diuretic (retains K)
If a woman has Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, what type of hormonal contraceptive would u recommend? (Formulation considerations)
YAZ
Sertraline
Fluoxetine (Sarafem)
If a woman has acne, what type of hormonal contraceptive would u recommend? (Formulation considerations)
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Estrostep
Yaz
If a woman has Heavy Mentsrual Bleeding, what type of hormonal contraceptive would u recommend? (Formulation considerations)
Any OCP would do
Mirena - preferred
Natazia - is indicated for menorrhagia
Tranexamic acid (Lysteda)
List drugs that reduce efficacy of hormonal contraceptive (use back-up while on these meds)
Antibiotics especially, Rifampin. Others are rifapentine, Rifabutin
Anticonvulsants - barbiturates, CBZ, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, topiramate and felbamate
St. John’s wort
Protease Inhibitors (PIs) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inh (NNRTIs) - increase or decrease OCPs
Bosentan (Tracleer), Mycophenolate (CellCept)
Smoking
How do u make changes to OCPs while on Rifampin?
Use other form of birth control
If switching back to OCPs after rifampin use, use back up for 11/2 months after stopping rifampin
Advantage of depo-provera inj? Disadvantage of depo-provera inj?
Doesn’t have drug interactions
Lowers bone density (should be avoided in women at risk for osteoporosis)
List oral contraceptive types (representative list)
High dose Monophasic COCs: all active pills contain the same level of hormone throughout the 3 active weeks
Biphasic or Triphasic (multiphasic): the dose of hormones changes over the course of 21 days
Low estrogen COCs
Extended cycle COCs
Progestin only mini-pills (POPs)
Which OCPs is approved for PMDD?
Seasonique
List agents in high dose Monophasic COCs (all active pills contain the same level of the hormones throughout the 3 active weeks)
50mcg Ethinyl estradiol, with various progestins
Ogestrel 0.5/50-28
Ovcon-50
Zovia 1/50-28