Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Physiology 2 > Contraception > Flashcards

Contraception Flashcards

1
Q

What are the methods which require the individual to do something vs methods which require a doctor to put something in someone?

A

Individual -

  1. Oral contraception (e.g. take pills 3 out of 4 weeks)
  2. Barrier (e.g. condoms)
  3. Fertility Awareness
  4. Coitus interruptus (pull out game strong)
  5. Oral emergency contraception

Doctor

  1. IUCD/IUI/IUS (e.g. coil)
  2. Progestogen Implants under skin / injections (e.g. depo provera injection in the buttock every 12 weeks)
  3. Sterilisation (e.g. closing UT/ tying up vas deferens
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the risks of using contraception vs the risks of not using it?

A

Risks of using contraception

  1. Failure
  2. Infection
  3. Allergy
  4. CVS, neoplastic (can cause cancer)
  5. Can effect emotions/ psyche
  6. Iatrogenic - harm caused by doctors

Risk of not using contraception

  1. Higher chance of pregnancy
  2. Population growth
  3. Social and economic costs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the benefits of contraception vs effects of no contraception?

A

Benefits

  1. No pregnancy
  2. Psychosexual wellbeing - can have sex whenever you want
  3. Choice of when to conceive and prevent
  4. Sexual Health – condoms stop STDs
  5. Cost savings
  6. Female equality
  7. Pills help periods become lighter

Effects of no treatment

  1. No interference in a natural process
  2. No population growth
  3. Control of women
  4. Leads to quick consecutive pregnancies for women which are harmful (in developing countries)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Which 2 hormones des the combined oral contraceptive pill have?

Examples of pills?

Why are there so many types of pills?

A

Oestrogen (synthetic forms) and progestogens (compounds similar to progesterone)

Desogestrel, drospirenone

Different amounts of oestrogen and progesterone in them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How do oestrogens and progesterones act?

What would happen if you only gave oestrogen and not progesterone?

A
  1. On anterior pituitary & hypothalamus, so less GnRH, so less LH and FSH secreted due to –ve feedback, so follicle does not develop so you do not ovulate and no pregnancy
  2. Directly on the ovary

Endometrium would keep growing and comes out in a very heavy bleed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Where do progestogens act and to cause what?

A
  1. Anterior pituitary & hypothalamus
  2. Ovary
  3. Endometrium - thins it so it does not proliferate/ secrete so no implantation even if there is ovulation
  4. Uterine tubes - puts them to sleep so the cilia become lazy so gamete transport is delayed
  5. Cervical mucus - thinned so sperm is not allowed in in the first place
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

So what are the sites of action of COCP?

A

7

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the benefits and risks of the COCP?

A

Benefits

  1. Highly reliable
  2. Safe
  3. Unrelated to coitus (intercourse)
  4. Woman in control
  5. Rapidly reversible – when you stop taking it, your cycle kicks starts again in a few days
  6. Halves risk of ovarian cancer + uterine cancer if taken long term
  7. No periods
  8. Helps endometriosis (cells of endometrium in other parts of internal female genital tract), menorrhagia (heavy periods), dysmenorrhoea (stomach cramps)

Risks

  1. CVS - high BP, increased risk of DVT (increase in clotting factors due to increase in oestrogen), vasospasms in brain vessels leading to stroke
  2. Neoplastic - increased risk of liver cancer
  3. GI - more insulin resistance due to oestrogen leading to diabetes, weight gain, Crohn’s disease
  4. Hepatic - congenital non haemolytic anaemia, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes due to build up of bilirubin), gall stones
  5. Dermatological - chloasma (skin discolouration due to too much oestrogen), acne, erythema multiforme (skin reaction)
  6. Psychological - mood swings, depression, lower libido
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How is the COCP taken and why is it dangerous to miss the pill in your last few days/ forget to take the next packs pills for a few days?

A

Take 21 pills, one each day, and stop for 7 day break (pill free interval in which you have some bleeding due to withdrawal from hormones)

Since you stop for 7 days but the HPG axis suppression lifts after 10 days, carelessness with pill taking can cause the suppression to lift and ovulation to occur

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Why must you ask a woman patient if they are taking any contraceptives?

A

Medications can interact with the contraceptives e.g. Liver enzyme inducing drugs affect metabolism of oestrogen and progestogen, rifampicin and anti-epileptics, broad spectrum antibiotics
which affect enterohepatic circulation of oestrogen only (40% of pill is recycled every time it goes through your gut)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the ring? What are it’s advantages and disadvantages?

A

COCP but instead of a pill, it is in ring form

Advantage - don’t have to take it everyday, just place in vagina for 21 days

Disadvantage - Have to remember to take it out after 21 days

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are examples of progestogen only methods of contraception?

What is the benefit of a device implanted in arm?

A
  1. Implants e.g. Nexplanon; implanted subcutaneously; long acting and reversible
  2. Hormone releasing IUCDs e.g. Mirena IUS; releases progesterone into uterus
  3. Progesterone Only Pills (POPs) e.g. desogestreal (cerelle)
  4. Injectables e.g. Depo Provera; 12 weekly intramuscular injection in the buttock; high conc. progesterone

The hormones are not reliant on being absorbed into your body, they are instead immediately absorbed into the arms circulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why is Cerella better than older POPs?

A
  1. No oestrogen – if given to women who are breastfeeding and you give oestrogen their milk dries up
  2. Better side effect profile
  3. Bleeding is regular/ as predictable as COCPs
  4. 12 hour window to take the pill in case you missed it
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What shape are copper bearing IUDs?

What benefits do they have?

A

Small and C shaped

  1. Destroys spermatozoa (copper is spermicidal)
  2. Prevent implantation – inflammatory reaction due to foreign body present in the uterus; known as endometritis; even if sperm gets through there is no implantation
  3. Prostaglandin secretion
  4. Mechanical effect
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the 2 types of IUDs?

How long do they last for?

What happens if given to women around age 40?

What is a drawback of them?

A

Copper bearing and hormone bearing e.g. Mirena

Minimum of 5 years

Can lead them to menopause due to their fertility declining

Time limited as progesterone runs out so must be replaced

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the benefits, disadvantages and risks of IUCDs?

When can’t you use them?

Any what ifs?

A

Benefits

  1. Non user dependent since health professionals responsibility to put them in
  2. Immediately effective
  3. Immediately reversible – as soon as they are out, fertility is back to normal
  4. Can be used long term
  5. Extremely reliable
  6. Unrelated to coitus
  7. Free from serious medical dangers

Risks

  1. Has to be fitted by trained medical personnel; resource expensive
  2. Fitting may cause pain or discomfort; short lived
  3. Periods may become heavier & painful due to the endometritis; if already an issue, consider progesterone releasing one as it thins the endometrium
  4. It does not offer protection against infection
  5. Threads may be felt by the male or female within

Risks

  1. Miscarriage risk higher if pregnancy occurs; try and remove it straight away when found out
    Removal in the early weeks before the threads are lost is unlikely to result in miscarriage
  2. If you ever get someone with a coil in and they are pregnant = ectopic pregnancy more commonly occurs
  3. Most problems are related to insertion; it should sit at the top of the uterine cavity and if it isn’t sat there, the uterus may expel it (can be too low = expulsion; too high abdomen)
  4. The uterus may be perforated when inserting due to its orientations
  5. If you have a pelvic inflammatory disease (e.g. chlamydia in the cervix drives the device into the abdomen)
  6. Pregnancy
  7. Unexplained vaginal bleeding
  8. Uterine abnormalities

Can you have it if?

  1. Nulliparity – had kids before? YES
  2. Past history of pelvic inflammatory disease; if treated YES
  3. Not in mutually monogamous relationship YES
  4. Menorrhagia / Dysmenorrhoea (heavy periods) YES but recommend the progesterone ones
  5. Small uterine fibroids (swellings on muscle of uterus); they have no harm unless they are distorting the cavity - may get it in the wrong place
17
Q

What are the ads and disads of condoms for both males and females?

A

Advantages for males

Man in control
Protects against STIs
No serious health risks; latex but you get non latex ones
Easily available (free at Family Planning clinics)

Advantages for females (femidoms)

Woman in control
Protects against STIs
Can be put in in advance and left inside after erection lost
Not dependent on male erection to work

Disadvantages for males

Needs to be taught
May cause allergies e.g. to latex
May cause psycho sexual difficulties
Higher failure rate among some couples
Oily preparations rot rubber e.g. some lubricants

Disadvantages for females

Obtrusive and big
Expensive
Messy
Rustles during sex
Uncertain failure rate
18
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of diaphragm and suction caps?

A

18

19
Q

What kind of things can you be aware of for fertility/ contraception?

A

19

20
Q

What kind of things can be taken into account when family planning?

A

20

21
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of fertility awareness?

A

21

22
Q

What are 2 examples of emergency contraception?

How long after unprotected sexual intercourse can you use the pills?

What are the 3 oral preparations of the pill?

A

22

23
Q

What does levonelle contain?

What is in it?

What are the 2 forms it can be taken?

A

23

Physiology 2 (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions