Family Planning Flashcards
In developed countries of the Western world, the most widely used methods in order of preference are the 1 2 3 4 5
male condom, combined oral contraceptive pill,
intra-uterine device (IUD), female sterilisation and
withdrawal
________ methods are defined as non-permanent
contraception administered less frequently than
once a month
LARCLong-acting reversible contraception (LARC).
Examples of LARC method
They include implants, IUDs and
injectables
LARC methods are the most effective
reversible contraceptives, with failure rates for typical
use _________
virtually the same as for perfect use
Examples of Combined hormonal contraceptives
— combined oral contraceptive pill (COC or
‘the pill’)
— vaginal ring (NuvaRing)
Examples of Progestogen-only contraceptives
— etonogestrel implant (Implanon NXT) — levonorgestrel-releasing IUD (Mirena) — depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA — progestogen-only pill (POP or ‘mini-pill’)
Post-coital contraception
— levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill
(ECP
Combined hormonal contraceptives contain an
oestrogen and progestogen, and their main mode of
action is ______
inhibition of hypothalamic and pituitary function leading to anovulation.
COCs in Australia contain ________, _______, ________
Efficacy is 99.7% with perfect use, 91% with typical use.
ethinyloestradiol (EE), oestradiol valerate (EV) or oestradiol (E2) and one of a range of progestogens.
The active oestrogen in the newer E2 and EV pills is structurally identical to the E2 produced by the ovaries. They have a theoretical but unproven benefit in terms of _______
venous
thromboembolism (VTE) risk
Use of formulations containing _____ is no longer
recommended because there is no known additional
benefit from their use and they are associated with
an increased risk of VTE.
50 mcg EE
Women starting on a 20 mcg EE pill have a higher
chance of discontinuation due to ______
breakthrough
bleeding
The early progestogens include_____ and ____
levonorgestrel and
norethisterone
Newer progestogens have been developed over recent decades to reduce ____
androgenic
side effects and to minimise the effect EE has on
lipids.
Nomogestrol acetate, gestodene, desogestrel
and etonogestrel are less androgenic, while
_______, ______, _______
are anti-androgenic
cyproterone acetate, drospirenone and dienogest
Drospirenone is an analogue
of ______ and has a mild diuretic effect
spironolactone
Starting a pill
Suitable first choice is a:
monophasic pill containing 30 mcg or 35 mcg ethinyloestradiol (EE) with levonorgestrel or norethisterone (e.g. Nordette, Microgynon 30, Monofeme, Levlen ED, Brevinor
What is the quickstart technique
If commenced at any time other
than day 1–5 of the menstrual cycle, abstinence/
condoms are required for the first 7 days after the
start
The oestrogen in any CHC may improve acne and hirsuitism via______ and ____
increased
sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels and
reduction of free testosterone
CHC is not recommended if:
a woman is over 35 years and has multiple cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, smoking, diabetes and
hypertension
Women taking liver enzyme-inducing drugs.
Alternative contraception is strongly advised. The
only hormonal contraceptives not affected by liver
enzyme-inducing drugs are _____ and ____
DMPA and IUDs
Current evidence suggests that most antibiotics do not
interact with combined hormonal contraceptives. The
only exceptions are liver enzyme-inducing _____ and _____
rifabutin
and rifampicin.
For women who still request
the use of COC while on meds with liver inducing enzyme properties, an _______may be effective
extended or tricycling regime
of a higher dose pill (e.g. containing at least 50 mcg
EE)
A number of significant beneficial effects arising
from the use of COCs have now been documented:
• Reduction in most menstrual cycle disorders,
including ______
• Reduction in the incidence of ______
dysmenorrhoea, symptoms of endometriosis and heavy menstrual bleeding
functional ovarian cysts and benign ovarian tumours
A number of significant beneficial effects arising
from the use of COCs have now been documented:
• Reduced incidence of \_\_\_\_\_\_ • Can reduce acne • Can be useful in managing symptoms of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ • Can assist with perimenopausal symptoms
ovarian and endometrial cancer
polycystic ovarian syndrome
A number of significant beneficial effects arising
from the use of COCs have now been documented:
- Can be used to manage ____ and ____
- Can reduce the risk of______
premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and its more severe form (PMDD) in some women
bowel cancer
The following circulatory disorders have been
linked with pill usage
• Venous deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism,
rarely: mesenteric, hepatic and kidney thrombosis
• Arterial myocardial infarction, thrombotic
stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, rarely: retinal and
mesenteric thrombosis
T or F
in pill use
The risk of circulatory disease has not been related
to duration of use and there is no increased risk in
perpetual users
T
The______ content of the pill is considered
to be the aetiological factor in pill associated VTE
oestrogen
The progestogen effect on ______ is not
considered significant in the aetiology of circulatory
disease.
lipid metabolism
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk is increased \_\_\_\_\_ times in users of CHCs compared to non-users.
The risk is highest in the first______of use
and gradually decreases with duration of
2–3
4 months
Studies have shown that COCs containing
cyproterone, desogestrel, drospirenone or gestodene
have a higher risk of VTE than COCs containing
______ and ______
levonorgestrel or other progestogens
T or F
the
absolute risk of VTE in users of any CHC is very
low and much lower than the risk associated with
pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Possible very small increased risk of CA in CHC and COC:
— cervix (benefits of use outweigh the risk
with a low- or high-grade squamous intraepithelial
lesion)
— breast
• Protective effect in CA:
1
2
3
— endometrial
— epithelial ovarian
— bowel
A common nuisance side effec in COCt is _____
breakthrough bleeding in the
first 2 months
What to do if woman vomits after taking pill
If a woman vomits
within 2 hours of taking an active pill, she should
take an additional active pil
Running packs of ________
together can result in unpredictable bleeding as
a result of the fluctuating dose of hormones.
multiphasic pills
A missed pill is defined as one that is taken____
more than 24 hours late (>48 hours since last pill was
taken).
What to do if missed pill
Condoms or
abstinence should be used for 7 days (the ‘Seven-day
rule’). This
If the pill is missed with <7 pills left before the
next placebo break, ________
skip placebos and continue active
pills.