Contraception Flashcards
What is the most common type of contraception used by women in the UK?
Combined hormonal contraception (CHC)
Which contraceptives are reversible?
ALL
except sterilisation
Which contraceptive has a delayed reversal?
Injectables
Which contraceptives are 100% effective?
None
Vasectomy
Which contraceptives are free of adverse side-effects?
None
Which contraceptives protect against STIs?
None
Which contraceptives have non-contraceptive benefits?
CHC
IUS
Which contraceptives are best for low maintenance and no ongoing medical input?
Implant
IUT
What is The Pearl Index?
No of contraceptive failures per 100 women-years of exposure
What is Life Table Analysis?
Provides contraceptive failure rate over specified time-frame and can provide cumulative failure rate for any specific length of exposure
What is method failure?
Pregnancy desperate correct use of method by user
What is user failure?
Pregnancy because method not used correctly by user
What is LARC?
Long-acting reversible contraception
What are the benefits of LARC?
Minimises user input + failure rates
When during the cycle is there the highest chance of pregnancy?
Day 8-19
What days are likely ovulation days in the cycle?
Day 12-18
How long does an egg usually survive?
24hrs
How long does sperm usually survive?
<4 days
What are examples of combined hormonal contraception?
Pill, patch, vaginal ring
What are the two hormones used in combined hormonal contraception?
Ethinyl estradiol (EE) and synthetic progesterone
How does combined hormonal contraception work?
Stops ovulation, affects cervical mucus and endometrium
What is the standard regime for combined hormonal contraception?
21 days with hormone free week
What are tailored regimes for combined hormonal contraception?
Tricycling
Continuous use
How is the pill taken when combined hormonal contraception?
Taken daily
How is the patch used when combined hormonal contraception?
EVRA, changed weekly
How is the vaginal ring used when combined hormonal contraception?
Nuvaring, changed every 3 weeks
When can the vaginal ring (combined hormonal contraception) be taken out?
3hrs in 24
What are the non-contraceptive benefits of the combined hormonal contraceptives?
Regulate/reduce bleeding - painful/heavy periods
Stop ovulation - help premenstrual syndrome
Reduction functional ovarian cysts
50% reduction ovarian/endometrial cancer
Improve acne/hirsutism
Reduction benign breast disease, RA, colon cancer, osteoporosis
What are side effects of combined hormonal contraception?
Breast tenderness Nausea Headaches Irregular bleeding first 3mo Mood Weight gain
What are serious risks associated with CHC use?
Venous thrombosis: DVT, PE
Arterial thrombosis: MI, ischaemic stroke
Cervical cancer
Breast cancer
Who is not allowed CHC?
Active gall bladder disease Previous liver tumour BMI >34 Previous VTE 1st degree relative VTE <45 Thrombophilis Smokers >35 Hx arterial thrombosis Focal migraines Age >50 Hypertension >140/90
How is the progestogen-only pill (POP) taken?
Same time every day without pill-free interval
When is POP not a good contraceptive choice?
GI upset
What is the window period for the desogestrel pill?
12hr window period