Contraception Flashcards
If a child is under the age of 16 how will it be assessed whether they are suitable for contraception?
Using Fraser Competence guidelines (from age 13, 12 is statutory rape)
UPSIS (unprotected sex is silly)
- Understand - risks and benefits of contraception
- Parents - encouraged but not forced to tell
- Sexual intercourse - will continue anyway
- Suffer-physical or mental health will suffer without
- Interest-contraception within best issues
What age is not suitable for contraception?
UNDER THE AGE OF 13 - they are unable to consent to sexual intercourse. Any sex in people of this age group is considered criminal
How can we categorise someone’s suitability for specific contraceptive methods?
UKMEC CRITERIA UKMEC 1 = Always usable UKMEC 2 = Benefit outweigh risks UKMEC 3 = Risks outweigh benefits UKMEC 4 = Do NOT use
Name some Short acting and long acting contraceptions
Short acting reversible methods:
- The pills, patches, rings and barrier contraception
Long acting reversible contraceptions (LARC):
- Coils, IUDs, IUSs, Implants and injectable contraceptives
Irreversible methods
- Male and female sterilisation
How effective is the COCP and POP at preventing pregnancy?
PERFECT USE = 0.3% of women become pregnant
TYPICAL USE = 9% of women become pregnant
How effective is the LNG IUS at preventing pregnancy?
PERFECT USE = 0.2% women become pregnant
TYPICAL USE = 0.2% women become pregnant
How effective are condoms at preventing pregnancy?
TYPICAL USE = 18% pregnancy rate
PERFECT USE = 2% pregnancy rate
What is the most effective method of contraception at preventing pregnancy?
Implant is most effective! (progesterone) (0.05% perfect and typical use)
What is the main benefit of barrier contraceptives and when should they be encouraged?
They are the only contraceptive method that prevents against STIs (also no hormonal effect)
- Bad at preventing against pregnancy so advise use with other contraceptive method
(they also are poorly used, interrupt sex and are very user dependent)
When is it deemed to be an ‘established pregnancy’ under UK law?
-When it has IMPLANTED in the uterine wall
(this can happen any time between 6-12 days after you ovulate and usually day 9 s used)
- Therefore preventing pregnancy before this point is not legally deemed an abortion (hence 0-5 days for emergency contraception)
What are the three options for emergency contraception the UK? (and when are they licensed?)
LEVONORGESTREL LNG
-licenced <72 hours
- ULIPRISTAL ACETATE
- lisenced up to <120 hours/5 days after UPSE
- used if copper coil cant be used/not accepted
- COPPER IUD (gold standard)
-lisenced up to <120 hours/5 days after UPSE
OR
5 days after ovulation (not implanted yet)
What do you need to know from the woman before you can decide which method of EC is most suitable?
- Date of LMP
- When the episode of UPSI was (and any other UPSI episodes)
- Where she is in her cycle
How do the two oral methods of EC work (LNG and UA)?
When can you NOT use them?
They work by preventing ovulation and so technically won’t work after day 14. (if they have ovulated>give copper coil)
When is EC indicated?
after pregnancy and TOP
ANY DAY of natural menstrual cycle
From day 21 after childbirth
From day 5 after abortion, miscarriage or ectopic
When regular contraception has been compromised or used incorrectly
When should EC be offered if a woman has missed pills?
COCP
- missed 2 or more pills (>24 hours) during week 1 of her packet (with UPSI)
POP
-1 missed pill (>12 hours) and UPSI since
How does LNG EC work and how long is it effective for?
- Progesterone basest, works by inhibiting/delaying ovulation
- Licensed for 72hours (3 days)
- NOT EFFECTIVE IF WOMAN HAS ALREADY OVULATED
When do doses of LEVONORGESTREL need repeating?
If woman vomits in 2 hours post ingestion then consider another dose
Can LEVONORGESTREL EC be given more than once in the same cycle?
Yes but off licence - senior decision
Who need doubles doses of LEVONORGESTREL EC?
- Women taking enzyme inducers (HIV, TB and epilepsy medication)
- Women BMI26+ or 70kg
How does ulipristal acetate work and how effective is it compared to LNG EC?
Any cons compared to LNG?
How long is it effective for?
Ulipristal acetate
-Binds to progesterone receptor and inhibits/delays ovulation
-It is MORE EFFECTIVE than levonorgestrel (however is effected by the progesterone pill (7 days prior, 5 days after)
Lisenced for within first 120 hours (5 days)
For how long after UPSI is EC effective?
Why is EC not a form of abortion?
120 hours (5 days) - there is little reduction in its efficacy over this time
Fertilisation happens day 6-12 after ovulation (therefore pre day 6 is stopping implantation, NOT abortion)
When should a repeat dose of UPA EC be given?
- If the woman vomits within 3 hours of taking
- BMI 26+ or >70kg
What extra advice do you need to give to women taking UPA EC about its effects? (think about interactions)
- Cannot breastfeed within 1 week of taking
- Reduce effectivness of progesterone pill taken in the 7 days prior or 5 DAYS AFTER (COCP or Prog pill)
What is the gold standard of emergency contraception?
The copper IUD. It should be offered to any woman seeking EC (although uptake is poor)
Why is copper IUD so good at EC?
- Hostile environment (prevents egg from implanting even if fertilised)
- Toxic to sperm
- Slows down passage of egg
For how long is copper IUD effective as EC?
Criteria A or B
-Within 5 days (120 hrs) of UPSI
OR
-Within 5 days (120 hrs) after the earliest expected date of ovulation
If you have a poor historian, which EC should you NOT give?
DO not give IUD (may have already implanted)
LNG and UPA should be given here as they will not disturb an ongoing pregnancy!!
How long after EC can a women start taking additional contraception?
Ongoing contraception (hence encourage IUD) -If taking LNG she can start suitable contraception immediately
-If taking UPA then wait 5 days before starting hormonal contraception
Always give advice about barrier contraception and STIs
How does the COCP work?
Primarily by SUPPRESSING OVULATION
If levels of oestrogen and progesterone are high LH and FSH will be low so no follicle will develop and be released
They also reduce stability of endometrium (make implantation less likely) and also thicken cervical mucus
COCP
How long does it take to work?
How do I take it?
Can I have unprotected sex always?
Takes 7 days to work (unless you start day 1-5 period then it is immediate)
- Take for 21 days and have 7 days off (bleed like periods) (alternatively can do tricycling or extended use)
- Can have UPSI during pill free week as long as next pack started on time
Other than contraception what are some reasons women take the COCP?
- Pregnancy prevention
- HMB
- Cycle control
- Acne treatment
- PMS management
- Reduces risk of endometrial (thinner), ovarian and colon cancer
What should women who take the COCP do if they vomit/perfuse diarroahea
If they vomit within 2hrs of taking then take another
But if repeated episodes:
-COC: use condoms during illness and for 7 days after
(this makes sense because this is the time taken to start working)
What are some common side effects of the COCP?
Oestrogen
Progesterone
What conditions are you predisposed to?
Oestrogen side effects
- Nausea/vomitting
- Bloating
- Headaches
- Breast tenderness
- Reduced libido
Progesterone side effects
- Acne
- Hurtuism
- Increased appetite/weight gain
- Depression
- Also increased risk of IHD, stroke, VTE, BREAST and CERVICAL CANCER
- Protective against endometrial and ovarian cancer
What are some contraindications to the COCP?
ABSOLUTE (ukmec 4):
VTE risk
-personal hx of VTE
-immobility (e.g major surgery)
Stroke risk
- hx of stroke/IHD
- migraine w/ aura
- > 35y and smoking 15 a day
- AF
- vascular disease
- uncontrolled HTN (systolic 160)
Breast cancer risk
-breast cancer
***also current enzyme inducers
RELATIVE: >35 smoking<15, BMI >35, FH+ve of VTE, controlled HTN, immobility, BRCA1/2 carrier/Severe cirrhosis/hepatoma
COCP
-what counts as a ‘missed’ pill
-what should they do if they miss one pill?
longer than 24 hours without pill=missed
- Take that pill as soon as you can even if it means taking two in one day
- No further action required
What missed pill advice should be given to the woman who has missed 2 or more COC pills?
step 1
step 2
step 3 (depends on week1/2/3)
- Take the pill ASAP and continue taking as normal (even if this means taking 2 in 1 day)
- Abstain from sex or use condoms for 7 days
- IF PILL MISSED IN WEEK 1 and UPSI occurred in pill free week or week 1 then give EC
IF PILL MISSED IN WEEK 2
-Carry on
IF PILL MISSED IN WEEK 3
-Run pills back to back
What are some examples of the COCP?
Microgynon
-Levest, Ovranette and Rigevidon
What are some non-contraceptive used of the COCP? (what conditions)
Control heavy bleeding and an irregular cycle
Help for endometriosis and dysmenorrhoea ( after NSAIDS, and IUS)
Help in PCOS and PMS (1st line)
How does the Progesterone only pill (POP)/Mini pill work?
- Thickens the CERVICAL MUCOUS and causes endometrial changes (easier to change thats why starts working after 2 days)
- Prevent ovulation by decreasing levels of FSH and LH
How is the POP taken?
POP TAKEN EVERY DAY (no pill free week)
OLD PILLS: Taken at the same time (within 3 hour window)
(Micronor®, Noriday® and Norgeston)
NEWER VERSION (desogestrel/cerazette): 12 hour window