Contraception Flashcards
what are four things you must consider as a GP prior to prescribing contraception?
- Obtain history including sexual history etc
- Establish contraindications
- Are the patient likely to adhere?
- Does the patient require permanent contraception?
how does the COCP work as a contraception
prevents ovulation; E suppresses FSH and P suppresses LH (primary mechanism) and thickens cervical mucus (secondary mechanism)- less hospitable environment
what is the failure rate for COCP amongst adults and teenage women?
- 09 realistically for adults (9%)
0. 15 for teenagers (15%)
how would you advise a female patient how to begin taking the COCP?
Start first day on menses or you can start on any day of the pack if you exclude pregnancy and use barrier contraception for first 7 days
what would be your advice for a patient who has missed a COCP pill?
Missing a pill less than 24 hrs- take the pill that you missed.
If more than 24 hrs, then take 2 pills but also use barrier contraception for 7 days.
If you are on the placebo pills (sugar pills) and you miss a 2 placebo pills, and have been having intercourse in the last 5 days, then you need to take the morning after pill as they may be pregnant.
If you are still on active pills and are near the sugar pills and miss a pill for more than 24 hrs, take 2 pills, skip sugar pills and start the next pack.
what are some advantages for COCP?
convenient, rapidly reversible, independent of intercourse, can also be used for dysmenorrhoea, reduces PID/ovarian cysts/ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer.
what are some disadvantages for COCP?
nausea, breast tenderness, mood changes, libido changes, fluid retention, adherence
what are the contraindications for COCP?
- High risk of VTEs/DVTs/PE
- High risk factors for CVD, obesity, over 35, high BP, smoking
- Past history of stroke or TIA
- Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding- ?cancer
- Focal migraines + aura
- History of breast cancer- clarify which receptor positive?
- Active liver disease
- Think about drug interactions
No COCP for breastfeeding if less than 6 months after birth of baby
what is the COCP?
oestrogen + progesterone pill
what are the options for emergency contraception?
morning after pill and copper ring
what is the benefit of a vaginal ring over OCP?
don’t get the hepatic first pass metabolism hence no drug interaction/no GI absorption hence no problem with malabsorption
better compliance as no daily pill required
How do we use the vaginal nuvaring for contraception?
3 weeks you insert a vaginal ring, and you then remove for 1 week to induce a withdrawal bleeding.
Immediately effective from insertion on the first day of period. If inserted at any other time–> requires back up contraception for 7 days
what progesterone only option forms of contraception can you prescribe?
mini pill
depo provera
implanon
mirena
general SE of progesterone only forms of contraception
irregular bleeding, weight gain, mood lability, reduced libido, drug interactions (rifampicin if mini pill and implanon) and hormone dependent cancer
specific SE of implanon you should inform patients before insertion?
irregular bleeding
what are some practice points about the minipill?
Mini-pill is generally used whilst breastfeeding.
Must take at the same time every day. within 3 hr time period.
If more than 3 hrs missed pill- need to use extra contraception.
Also need extra contraception when first starting the mini-pill (2 days) unless starting Day 1-5 of menstrual cycle.
Increased risk of functional ovarian cysts.
what are the general mechanisms of progesterone only containing contraception?
endometrial atrophy and thickened cervical mucus.
Implanon and depo provera also inhibit ovulation but not mirena or minipill
what form is depo provera and how often do we give it?
IM
every 12 weeks (not three months)
what are some advantages of depoprovera?
convenient
not interfered by other drugs
some protection against uterine cancer and PID
what are the disadvantages of depo-provera
cannot be immediately reversed- need to wait out the 3 month period
reduces bone density