Contraception Flashcards
What are the 6 main methods of contraception
- Combined hormonal (pills, patches & vaginal ring)
- Progesterone only (pill, implant, depo injection)
- IUS (Mirena & Jaydess)
- IUD
- Barrier methods
- Natural family planning methods
Why do we need contraception ?
Because it is estimated roughly 40% of pregnancies are unplanned
What is one of the main benefits of using LARC compared to barrier methods & oral contraceptive pills ?
They do not depend on daily concordance
Go over the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis
What are the 4 main modes of action of contraceptive methods?
- Stopping the ovary producing eggs
- Blocking the fallopian tub or slowing the eggs transport through it so when it reaches the uterus it is dead
- Affecting the lining of the uterus to stop the egg from being able to implant itself
- Blocking sperm entry into the vagina using condoms or abstinence
How long can sperm survive in the female genital tract ?
Typically 5 days but can be upto 7
How long does the ovum tend to survive in the female genital tract ?
17-24hrs
Describe what natural family planning contraception is and how it works
It works by observing & recording your bodys different natural signs/fertility indicators, which are:
- Your body temp
- Cervical secretions (cervical mucus)
- The length of your menstrual cycle
What does measuring body temperature tell you about the mestrual cycle and when should it be measured ?
- Temp slightly increases after you have ovulated.
- This can be measured by recording your body temp each day, an increase in temp >0.2 sustained for 3 days after at least 6 days of lower temp indicates it
- Temp is to be taken before you get out of bed
How are cervical secretions (mucus) monitored in natural family planning ?
- The amount of oestrogen & progesterone varies in the menstrual cycle, altering the type & quality of cervical mucus throughout.
- You get thick & sticky mucus post-ovulation for at least 3 days after ovulation (period of low fetility)
- This follows a period prior to ovulation of thinner, watery ‘stretchy’ mucus (high fertility)
How is cervical position also helpful in natural family planning ?
- A fertile cervix is high, soft & open in the vagina
- A less fertile cervix is low, firm & closed in the vagina
Note - this is not used as a fertility indicator on its own
How is the length of the menstural cycle used in natural family planning contraception ?
- A record of their last 12 cycles is taken
- The shortest cycle is then taken and 20 days is substracted, to find their most fertile day
- Days 8-18 are the most fertile period in a 28 day cycle, and someone who has a 28 day cycle is likely to ovulate at 14 days
What is the effectiveness of natural family planning contraception ?
If used according to teaching & instructions it can be upto 99% effective but typical effectiveness is 76%
What are the advantages of natural family planning ?
- Makes you more aware of your fertility ==> can help plan or avoid a pregnancy
- No chemicals or devices ==> no physical side effects
- Acceptable to all faiths & cultures ==> e.g. catholics can use it etc
What are the disadvantages of natural family planning ?
- Takes 3-6 menstrual cycles to learn effectively
- Have to keep daily records
- Illness, stressm or travel etc may affect fertility indicators
- Need to avoid sex or use condoms during fertile time
- Natrual methods dont protect against STI’s
Define what lactational amenorrhoea is
- This is temporary postnatal infertility that occurs when a women is amenorrhoeic (not menstruating) & fully breastfeeding.
- The duration lasts 6 months (basically period if exclusively breastfeeding)
What are the 3 criteria to be met to be assured a women has lactational amenorrhoea ?
- Exclusively breastfeeding
- < 6 months postnatal (birth)
- Amenorrhoeic (not menstruating)
How effective is the period of lactational amenorrhoea for contraception ?
upto 98% effective, but the 3 criteria must be met
Define what long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is
This is defined as contraceptive methods that require user action < once per cycle or month
What are the 4 main types of LARC?
- Copper intrauterine devices (IUD’s)
- Progesterone only intrauterine systems (IUS)
- Progesterone-only injectable contraceptives
- Progesterone-only subdermal implants
What is a copper intrauterine device (IUD) also known as a ‘coil’ or ‘copper coil’ and how long does it work as a contraceptive method ?
- This is a small plastic & copper device that is put into the uterus, it has one or two thin threads which hang through the cervix into the top of the vagina
- It works for 5-10 years
How effective is the copper IUD ?
It is 99% effective
How does the copper IUD work ?
- It prevents sperm from surviving & alters your cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg
- ==> it primarily acts by preventing fertilisation & may stop implantation
What are the advantages of the copper IUD ?
- Works as soon as its in
- Lasts for a long time (5-10years) ==> women aged ≥40 can use it until menopause
- Can be used if breastfeeding
- Not affected by other medications
- Fertility returns to normal as soon as its taken out
- Not contraindcated in diabetes & can be used in HIV+ve or AIDs patients
- May be the only suitable reliable method for women after breast cancer
What are the disadvantages of copper IUD’s?
- The often cause heavier &/or dysmenorrhoea (painful periods) and potentially longer periods, especially during the first 3 months
- Will need internal exammination to check IUD is suitable & another when it is fitted
- Doesn’t protect against STI’s & if you get one with an IUD in place this could lead to pelvic floor infection
What are some of the risk/side effects of copper IUD use ?
- 50% stop using them due to unacceptable vaginal bleeding & pain
- Risk of uterine perforation at time of insertion (minimal risk)
- Very low risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease
- IUD may be expelled (uncommon)
- If a women becomes pregnant whilst using one, there is a 1 in 20 risk of an ectopic pregnancy ==> this needs to be excluded
What can be used to help with the pain caused by copper IUDs?
NSAID’s
What are the contraindications to copper IUD use ?
- You might already be pregnant
- Has an untreated STI or pelvic infection or sepsis
- Has problems with their uterus or cervix
- Has unexplained bleeding from their vagina e.g. intermenstrual or post-coital
- Initiation in complicated organ transplants e.g. graft failure, rejection, cardiac allograft vasculopathy
- Initiation in known long QT syndrome
- From 48hrs to < 4weeks postpartum
What is an intrauterine system (IUS) and what are the 2 subtypes and their length of use
An IUS is a small T-shaped plastic device that is put into the uterus, there it releases progesterone
There are 2 types of IUS:
- Jaydess - smaller and works upto 3 years
- Mirena - works upto 5 years
How does an IUS work
- It thins the lining of the uterus (endometrium) ==> prevents implantation
- It also thickens the cervical mucus helping prevent sperm reaching the egg
Note - in some women it stops ovulation, but most continue to ovulate
What are the advantages of an IUS?
- Works for a long-time, women aged ≥45 can use it until menopause
- Mirena often makes periods lighter, shorter & sometimes less painful, periods may then stop after a year of use ==> mirena can be useful for dysmenorrhoea
- Can be used if breastfeeding
- Fertility returns to normal once the IUS is removed
- Not affected by other medicines
- Not contra-indicated in diabetes or HIV/AIDS
What is the effect of IUS on periods ?
- In the first 6 months irregular spotting or bleeding is common
- With the Mirena periods become lighter, shorter & possibly less painful
- Likely to then have infrequent (oligomenorrhoe) or absent periods (amenorrhoea) by the end of the first year of use
What are the disadvantages of IUS use ?
- Period changes may not be acceptable
- Some women report having acne, headaches & breast tenderness
- Some women may develop ovarian cysts (not dangerous) which can cause pelvic pain
- Doesnt protect against STI’s & if you get an STI whilst using one it can lead to pelvic infection
What are the risks/possible side effects of IUS use ?
- Upto 60% of women stop using them due to unacceptable vaginal bleeding & pain
- May cause acne
- Risk (minimal) of uterine perforation at time of insertion
- IUS may be expelled
- If a women becomes pregnant whilst using one the risk of an ectopic is 1 in 20 so they need to be investigated for one
Do IUS or IUD increase the overall risk of ectopic pregnancy ?
No
How soon after fitting does an IUS provide effective contraception ?
- If fitted during the first 7 days of the menstrual cycle then provides immediate contraception
- If not fitted during this period then additional contracdption is needed for the first 7 days of use
What are the contraindications for IUS use ?
- If possibly already pregnant
- Has had breast cancer within the last 5 years
- Cirrhosis of the liver or liver tumours
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding - intermenstrual or post-coital
- Arterial disease or history of serious heart disease or stroke
- Current untreated STI or pelvic infection or sepsis
- Problems with their uterus or cervix
- Initiation in complicated organ transplants e.g. graft failure, rejection, cardiac allograft vasculopathy
- Initiation in known long QT syndrome
- From 48hrs to < 4weeks postpartum
What is the contraceptive implant and how long does it work?
It is a small flexible rod placed just under your skin in your upper arm, it releases progesterone and works for 3 years
What is the effectiveness of the contraceptive implant ?
over 99% effective (most effective of all methods)
How does the contraceptive implant work ?
- It stops ovulation
- It also thickens the cervical mucus & thins the lining of the uterus
What are the advantages of the contraceptive implant ?
- Works for a long time - 3yrs
- It may reduce heavy, painful periods
- Can use it when breastfeeding
- Your ferility will return to normal as sson as the implant is taken out