fsrh Flashcards
When can contraception after childbirth be initiated?
21 days
What is the earliest a IUC/Implant can be inserted after childbirth?
Women should be advised that intrauterine contraception (IUC) and progestogen-only
implant (IMP) can be inserted immediately after delivery.
How long should a woman wait before trying to conceive again?
Women should be advised that an interpregnancy interval (IPI) of less than 12 months
between childbirth and conceiving again is associated with an increased risk of preterm
birth, low birthweight and small for gestational age (SGA) babies
Which methods of contraception are safe to use after childbirth?
Women should be advised that although contraception is not required in the first 21 days
after childbirth, most methods can be safely initiated immediately, with the exception of
combined hormonal contraception (CHC).
Can women who develop medical problems during pregnancy safely use contraception
after childbirth?
Clinicians should discuss with the woman any personal characteristics or existing
medical conditions, including those that have developed during pregnancy, which may
affect her medical eligibility for contraceptive use.
Is emergency contraception (EC) safe to use after childbirth?
Emergency contraception (EC) is indicated for women who have had unprotected sexual intercourse (UPSI) from 21 days after childbirth, but is not required before this
Is (LNG/UP- EC) safe to use after childbirth?
Oral EC levonorgestrel 1.5 mg (LNG-EC) and ulipristal acetate 30 mg (UPA-EC) are safe
to use from 21 days after childbirth. The copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) is safe to
use for EC from 28 days after childbirth.
Is teh copper coil as emergency contraception (EC) safe to use after childbirth?
The copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) is safe to
use for EC from 28 days after childbirth.
Does LNG-EC effect breastfeeding?
Women who breastfeed should be informed that available limited evidence indicates that
LNG-EC has no adverse effects on breastfeeding or on their infants.
Does UPA/EC effect breastfeeding?
Women who breastfeed should be advised not to breastfeed and to express and discard
milk for a week after they have taken UPA-EC
Is additional contraception required after initiation of a method after childbirth?
Women should be advised that additional contraceptive precautions (e.g. barrier
method/abstinence) are required if hormonal contraception is started 21 days or more
after childbirth. Additional contraceptive precaution is not required if contraception is
initiated immediately or within 21 days after childbirth.
Does initiation of hormonal contraceptives affect breastfeeding outcomes or infant
outcomes?
A
Women who are breastfeeding should be informed that the available evidence indicates
that progestogen-only methods of contraception (LNG-IUS, IMP, POI and POP) have no
adverse effects on lactation, infant growth or development.
B
Women who are breastfeeding should wait until 6 weeks after childbirth before initiating a
CHC method.
B
Women who are breastfeeding should be informed that there is currently limited
evidence regarding the effects of CHC use on breastfeeding. However, the better quality
studies of early initiation of CHC found no adverse effects on either breastfeeding
performance (duration of breastfeeding, exclusivity and timing of initiation of
supplemental feeding) or on infant outcomes (growth, health and development)
Can women who breastfeed effectively use lactational amenorrhoea method (LAM) as
contraception?
Women may be advised that, if they are less than 6 months postpartum, amenorrhoeic
and fully breastfeeding, the lactational amenorrhoea method (LAM) is a highly effective
method of contraception.
Women using LAM should be advised that the risk of pregnancy is increased if the
frequency of breastfeeding decreases (e.g. through stopping night feeds, starting or
increasing supplementary feeding, use of dummies/pacifiers, expressing milk), when
menstruation returns or when more than 6 months after childbirth.
When can IUC be inserted after childbirth?
IUC can be safely inserted immediately after birth (within 10 minutes of delivery of the
placenta) or within the first 48 hours after uncomplicated caesarean section or vaginal
birth. After 48 hours, insertion should be delayed until 28 days after childbirth.
When can IMP be started after childbirth?
IMP can be safely started at any time after childbirth including immediately after delivery.
When can POP be started after childbirth?
POP can be started at any time after childbirth, including immediately after delivery
When can POI (depot) be started after childbirth?
POI can be started at any time after childbirth, including immediately after delivery
When can COCP be started after childbirth?
All women should undergo a risk assessment for VTE postnatally. CHC should not be
used by women who have risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) within
6 weeks of childbirth. These include immobility, transfusion at delivery, body mass index
(BMI) ≥30 kg/m2
, postpartum haemorrhage, post-caesarean delivery, pre-eclampsia or
smoking. This applies to both women who are breastfeeding and not breastfeeding.
Women who are not breastfeeding and are without additional risk factors for VTE should
wait until 21 days after childbirth before initiating a CHC method.
When should consent for sterilisation at caeserian be gained?
Clinicians should ensure that written consent to be sterilised at caesarean section is
obtained and documented at least 2 weeks in advance of a planned elective caesarean
section.
When can a woman start using a diaphram after childbirth?
Women choosing to use a diaphragm should be advised to wait at least 6 weeks after
childbirth before having it fitted because the size of diaphragm required may change as
the uterus returns to normal size.
Why is the Fertility awareness method problematic after childbirth?
Fertility awareness methods (FAM) can be used by women after childbirth. However,
women should be advised that because FAM relies on the detection of the signs and
symptoms of fertility and ovulation, its use may be difficult after childbirth and during
breastfeeding.
When can contraception be initiated after abortion?
A woman’s chosen method of contraception should be initiated immediately after
abortion (medical and surgical).
Clinicians should be aware that insertion of intrauterine contraception (IUC) at the time of
abortion is convenient and highly acceptable to women. This has been associated with
high continuation rates and a reduced risk for another unintended pregnancy than when
provision of IUC is delayed.
Clinicians should be aware that insertion of progestogen-only implants (IMP) at the time
of abortion is convenient and highly acceptable to women. This has been associated
with high continuation rates and a reduced risk for another unintended pregnancy than
when provision of IMP is delayed
Which method of contraception may not be safe after an abortion?
IUC should not be inserted in the presence of postabortion sepsis.
Is emergency contraception (EC) safe to use after abortion?
Emergency contraception (EC) is indicated for women who have had unprotected sexual
intercourse (UPSI) from 5 days after abortion.
Women should be advised that any method of EC can be safely used after an
uncomplicated abortion.
Is additional contraception required after initiation of a method after abortion?
Women should be advised that additional contraceptive precautions (e.g. barrier
methods/abstinence) are required if hormonal contraception is started 5 days or more
after abortion. Additional contraceptive precaution is not required if contraception is
initiated immediately or within 5 days of abortion.
Problem with the depot post-abortion?
Women should be advised that there may be a slightly higher risk of continuing
pregnancy (failed abortion) if DMPA is initiated at the time of mifepristone administration.
When can combined pill be started after an abortion
Combined hormonal contraception (CHC) can be safely started immediately at any time
after abortion.
How long should a woman wait before trying to conceive again after ectopic pregnancy or
miscarriage?
Women who wish to conceive after miscarriage can be advised there is no need to delay
as pregnancy outcomes after miscarriage are more favourable when conception occurs
within 6 months of miscarriage compared with after 6 months.
D
Women who have been treated with methotrexate should be advised that effective
contraception is recommended during and for at least 3 months after treatment in view of
the teratogenic effects of this medication.
Women should be advised that effective contraception can be started on the day of
methotrexate administration or surgical management of ectopic pregnancy.
Is emergency contraception (EC) safe to use after ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage?
Emergency contraception (EC) is indicated if unprotected sexual intercourse (UPSI)
takes place more than 5 days after methotrexate administration or surgical treatment of
ectopic pregnancy.
Is additional contraception required after initiation of a method after ectopic pregnancy or
miscarriage?
Women should be advised that additional contraceptive precautions (e.g. barrier
methods/abstinence) are required if hormonal contraception is started 5 days or more
after miscarriage. Additional contraceptive precaution is not required if contraception is
initiated immediately or within 5 days of miscarriage.
What are the implications of recurrent miscarriage on contraceptive choice?
Women who have had recurrent early miscarriage (REM) should be investigated for any
underlying causes. However, investigations should not lead to a delay in initiation of a
contraceptive method if the woman does not wish to become pregnant.
D
Combined hormonal contraception (CHC) should be avoided by women with REM until
antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has been excluded.
Is there any contraceptive method associated with a risk of another ectopic pregnancy?
Women should be advised that the absolute risk of ectopic pregnancy when
contraception is used is extremely small and that the risk of pregnancy is lowest with
LARC.
Women should be advised to seek medical advice if they suspect they may be pregnant
and have symptoms suggestive of ectopic pregnancy, even while using contraception.
Women who have had an ectopic pregnancy should be advised that the IUC is one of
the most effective methods of contraception and so the absolute risk of any pregnancy
including ectopic pregnancy is extremely low.
Women should be informed that if pregnancy occurs with an IUC in situ, there is an
increased risk of ectopic pregnancy and therefore the location of the pregnancy should
be confirmed by ultrasound as soon as possible.
Are fertility and pregnancy outcomes affected after GTD?
Clinicians should reassure women with GTD that fertility and pregnancy outcomes are
favourable after GTD, including after chemotherapy for gestational trophoblastic
neoplasia (GTN). However, there is an increased risk of GTD in subsequent pregnancy
How long should a woman wait after GTD before trying to conceive?
D
After complete molar pregnancy, women should be advised to avoid subsequent
pregnancy for at least 6 months to allow human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)
monitoring for ongoing GTD.
D
After partial molar pregnancy, women should be advised to avoid pregnancy until two
consecutive monthly hCG levels are normal.
D
Women who have had chemotherapy for GTD should be advised to avoid pregnancy for
1 year after treatment is complete.
When can an IUC be inserted after GTD?
IUC should not be inserted in women with persistently elevated hCG levels or malignant
disease.
D
IUC should not normally be inserted until hCG levels have normalised but may be
considered on specialist advice with insertion in a specialist setting for women with
decreasing hCG levels following discussion with a GTD centre.
Is emergency contraception (EC) safe to use after GTD?
Emergency contraception (EC) is indicated if unprotected sexual intercourse (UPSI)
takes place from 5 days after treatment for GTD.
D
Women should be advised that use of oral EC is safe after treatment for GTD. Insertion
of copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) for EC may be considered in a specialist setting
for women with decreasing hCG levels following discussion with a GTD centre.