Contraception, STIs and termination Flashcards
What is law for people under 16 having sex?
- a young child under 13 cannot consent to any sexual activity
- if you are told this by a patient, you must inform social services
- an older child (i.e. 13-15) cannot legally have intercourse or oral sex with anyone, but consensual touching, kissing and sexual conversations between older children are generally considered to be part of growing up
Describe the fraser guidelines
- he/she has a sufficient maturity and intelligence to understand the nature and implications of the proposed treatment
- he / she cannot be persuaded to tell her parents or to allow the doctor to tell them
- he / she is very likely to begin or continue having sexual intercourse with or without contraceptive treatment
- his / her physical or mental health is likely to suffer unless he / she received the advice or treatment
- the advice or treatment is in the young person best interests
How can contraception prevent ovulation?
- main mechanism of most hormonal methods (except hormone coil and traditional POPs)
- works by suppressing FSH and LH (negative feedback hypothalamus / pituitary)
- emergency hormonal contraception only temporarily delays (rather than suppresses) ovulation
How can contraception prevent fertilisation?
- condoms, diaphragm + spermicide, female and male sterilisation, intrauterine devices, hormonal methods (cervical mucous effect)
- works by creating a mechanical or surgical barrier or by direct toxicity
How can contraception prevent implantation?
- hormonal contraceptive methods
- intrauterine devices only as secondary mechanism of action but more relevant copper coil when used as emergency contraception
- works by creating a hostile endometrium or direct toxicity
Name examples of hormonal methods of contraception
- combine pill, ring and patch
- minipill
- DMPA injection and contraceptive implant (nexplanon)
Name examples of barrier methods of contraception
- male and female condoms
- diaphragm or cervical cap (plus spermicide)
Name examples of intrauterine methods of contraception
- intrauterine device (copper coil, IUD)
- intrauterine system (hormone coil IUS)
Name examples of permanent methods of contraception
- female sterilisation
- male sterilisation (vasectomy)
Name examples of fertility awareness methods of contraception
- basal temperature
- calendar
- cervical secretion monitoring methods
Name examples of emergency contraception
- emergency IUD
- emergency hormonal contraception (ulpristal acetate (ella one) or levonogestrel)
Describe the non contraceptive benefits of hormonal contraception
Decreased;
- period pain
- heavy menstrual bleeding
- irregular PV bleeding
- ovulation pain
- PMS
- cyclical breast tenderness
- ovarian cysts
- endometriosis
- ovarian cancer
- acne or hirsutism
- perimenopausal symptoms
What might be the only reliable suitable contraception method for women after breast cancer?
Intrauterine device (copper)
What is the most effective of all contraceptive methods?
Nexplanon
What is the action of combined hormonal contracpetion?
Stops ovulation
How can the COC be taken?
- starts in first 5 days of period
- or at any time in cycle when reasonably sure not pregnant plus condoms 7 days
- take daily for 21 days followed by a 7 day break
- tricycling; three months then stop for 7 days
- continuous use; bleed for 4 days or more stop for 4 days and start again
What factors may affect the effectiveness of CHC?
- impaired absorption; GI conditions
- increased metabolism; liver enzyme induction, drug interaction
- forgetting
What are some risks of using CHC?
- venous thrombosis
- arterial thrombosis
- adverse effects on some cancers
- systemic hypertension; BP checked at 3 months then annually
- migraine with aura increases the risk of ischaemic stroke so CHC use in individuals with migraine with aura is contraindicated
What is aura associated with migraine?
- a change occuring 5-20 minutes before the onset of headache
- may be visual, typical scotoma
- altered sensation
- smell or taste
- hemiparesis
Name side effects of CHC
- nausea
- bleeding
- spots
- breast tenderness
What is the mode of action of desogestrel POP?
Inhibits ovulation
How do you take / start progestogen only methods?
- POP, subdermal implant, DMPA
- day 1-5 of period
- or anytime if reasonably certain not pregnant plus condoms for 7 (2 for POP) days
Name side effects of the POP
- nausea
- irregular bleeding common
- spots
- headaches
Describe the guidance for a missed POP
- take roughly at the same time everyday
- more than 12 hours late it wont work for two days
What is the mode of action of the depo provera or syana press injections?
- lowers estradiol
- supresses FSH
Name side effects of depo rprovera and syana press
- nausea
- bleeding
- weight gain
- spots
- headaches
How are diaphragms used?
- must be held in place for 6 hours after sex
- washed out with soapy water afterwards
What legal documents are important in termination of pregnancy?
- certified on HSA1 form (certificate A), 2 doctors sign
- two emergency clauses (F and G) one doctor signs (HSA2)
- all abortions reported to CMO via abortion notification form (HSA4)
Clause C allows termination of pregnancy up to when?
- 23+6 weeks
- the pregnancy has not exceeded its 24th week and the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated , of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman
Clause E allows termination of pregnancy up to when?
- no gestational limit
- there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped
What are the two methods of abortion?
Medical or surgical
- depends on;
- gestation
- patient preference
- regional availability
How is gestation assessed before abortion?
- clinically; estimated by LMP +/- date of +ve UPT, palpable uterus (>12 weeks)
- ultrasound; abdominal or transvaginal (<6 weeks), frequently used for all pre-covid, now via risk assessment (symptoms or risk factors for ectopic, uncertainty about dates)
What two drugs are used as part of a medical abortion?
- mifepristone 200mg PO
- misoprostol 800mcg PV/SL (24-48 hours later)
- misoprostol can be taken sublingually or vaginally
Describe how medical abortion is undertaken in <12 weeks gestation
- can self administer mifepristone and misoprostol at home
- further misoprostol (400mcg) if not bleeding within 4 hours and less than 10 weeks
- 10-11+6 weeks, 3 further doses of misoprostol (400mcg) provided
Describe how medical abortion is undertaken in >12 weeks gestation
- inpatient procedure
- repeated doses of PV misoprostol; 800mcg PV then 400mcg 3 hourly PV/PO/SL (up to 4)
Medical temination of pregnancy up to 21+6 weeks is undertaken how?
- transabdominal ultrasound to visualise the heart of the foetus
- injection of potassium chloride to stop foetal heartbeat before proceeding with fetocide
What type of drug is mifepristone?
Anti-progesteron
What type of drug is misoprostol?
- prostaglandin
- provokes uterus to expel pregnancy
What is included in a medical abortion at home pack from the pharmacy?
- mifepristone 200mg
- misoprostol 800mg (PV or SL) + additional dose 400mcg
- anti-emetic
- analgesia; dihydrocodeine, paracetamol and ibuprofen
- antibiotics; 7 days doxycycline
- contraception (6 months POP)
- patient information leaflet and contact info
- low sensitivity pregnancy test
Describe the surgical abortion procedure
- removal of pregnancy via surgical procedure (under anaesthesia)
- cervical priming via misoprostol or osmotic dilators
- <14 weeks; electric vacuum aspiration, manual vacuum aspiration (up to 10weeks)
- > 14 weeks; dilatation and evacuation
Name complications of abortion
- haemorrhage +/- blood transfusion
- failed / incomplete abortion
- infection
- uterine perforation (surgical only)
- cervical trauma (surgical only)
When would VTE prophylaxis be considered at time of abortion?
- if high risk, consider LMWH for 1 week after abortion
- if very high risk, considering starting LMWH before abortion +/- continuing for longer e.g. 6 weeks
Describe what is asked during a pre-abortion consultation
- confirm ID and check alone / safe
- feelings about pregnancy
- gynae / obstetric history
- medical, drug and social history
- explore safeguarding issue e.g. under 16s
- discussion of available options
- risk of procedure and consent
- STI risk assessment +/- testing
- contraception
- further arrangements and follow up
What are the partner notification periods for different infections?
- chlamydia; male urethral = 4 weeks, any other = 6 weeks
- gonorrhoea; male urethral = 2 weeks, any other infection = 3 weeks
- non-specific urethritis; 4 weeks
- trichomonas vaginalis; 4 week
- epididymitis; 6 months unless chlamydia/ gonorrhoea
- PID; 6 months unless chlamydia / gonorrhoea
- HIV; 4 weeks before negative test; or before most likely time of infection
- primary syphilis = 90 days
- secondary syphilis = 2 years
What is the eligibility criteria for PrEP in scotland?
- MSM condomless anal sex with 2+ sexual partners in last year and likely in next 3 months
- rectal bacterial STI in last year
- partner of someone with HIV who does not have a suppressed viral load
Post exposure prophylaxis following sexual exposure is available for what infectons?
- hepatitis B; HBV vaccine up to 7 days, immunoglobulin for vaccine non-responders
- HIV; 3 antiretrovirals, start within 72 hours, 28 days total
How can gonorrhoea and chlamydia be sampled?
- vulvovaginal swab (VVS), pre speculum
- urine; first void
- throat swab
- rectal swab