Contraception Flashcards
Contraception: What are the advantages of contraception?
Choice
control (for personal or medical reasons)
Family spacing (and associated health concerns)
Cost
saves lives globally
What are some of the disadvantages of contraception?
Changes in sexual habits
Increased promiscuity
medical complications
cost
What are some of the key considerations in contraceptive consultation?
- Health (obesity)
- age (16 yrs and consent, vs older woman)
- desire for fertility
- social/ religious/ ethical (e.g. certain religins dictate no contraception may be used)
- education
- compliance
- cost
Contraceptive methods
Which is the least reliable?
- Natural/ physiological (generally least reliable)
- Barrier (Condoms/ female condom)
- Hormonal
- Surgical
- Overlap –> use more than one type.
Natural physiological methods of contraception?
- Rhythm method –> prevent sperm/ egg interaction
- Coitus interruptus
- Lactation –> prevent ovulation (theoretically and only with exclusive regular feeding)
Rhythm method: what is it?
Meaning in rhythm with a woman’s natural fertility
Ovum has limited period of fertility.
Avoid intercouse in the fertility window 4-5 days prior and 1-2 days after a predicted ovulation.
Rhythm method:
Advantages?
Disadvantages?
Advantages:
- Cheap/ no side effect
- no contraindications
- no religious/ ethical issues
Disadvantages:
- Limit sexual activity
- Failure rate, failure of compliance (however failure rate more recently mitigated by ovulation tests).
- Requires Education (3-6 months)
What methods may be used to predict the timing of the fertile window?
- Basal body temperature (rises post ovulation)
- Vaginal mucus (watery pre ovulation)
- Hormone levels (spike in oestrogen pre ovulation.)
Lactation: MOA?
Regular and exclusive breastfeeding:
Prolactin inhibits the secretion of FSH
suppression of the HPO axis –> no ovulation
Six months
–> risk of failure rate and miscommunication risk between dr. and patient
Coitus interruptus : MOA?
Penile withdrawal before ejaculation
Significant failure rate
Advantages and disadvantages to rhythm method: (Cheap/ no SE’s/ religious or ethical BUT Limits sexual activity, FAILURE RATE).
No STI protection
Barrier methods
What are they?
MOA?
- Condom (disadvantage –> risk of a tear)
- Diaphragm
- Cervical cap
- Plus –> spermicide
MOA –> prevents sperm/ egg interaction
Barrier method: Diaphragm/ cap
MOA
Advantages
Disadvantages
- MOA: Covers the cervix, preventing sperm egg interactions.
-
Advantages:
- Can be covered in spermicide as extra precaution
- not usually felt by partner during intercourse
- increased agency over fertility, no need for hormones
- discreet
-
Disadvantages:
- Requires professional fitting
- Needs to be left in 6 hours after sex
- requires proper education on its use
- can cause infection if it is left in for too long
- NO STI PROTECTION
Condom:
MOA
Advantages
Disadvantages
MOA: prevent sperm- egg interaction
Advantages: Cheap, readily available, STI PROTECTION
Disadvantages: Latex allergy, some sensation loss/ interruption / accidents, education requires (beware oil based lubricant).
What is LARC?
Moa?
Long acting reversible contraception (LARC), also known as intrauterine contraceptive device (ICD) or intrauterine device (IUD)
MOA: The copper IUD releases copper which is a spermacide and mechanically prevents implantation
Advantages of the LARC/ IUD?
Advantages:
- Long term (12 yrs)
- will not limit/ interrupt sexual activity
- IUCD copper no artifical hormones
- amenorrhea (no period yaaaas)
- decrease dysmenorrhea (pain during period)
- partner unaware, however strings required to know still in place, risk of pulling.