OCPs/Family Planning Flashcards
Monophasic ortho-novum
Class: Combination pill
Mechanism of action: constant level of estrogen suppresses FSH and LH
progesterone suppresses LH surge, thickens cervical mucus, and causes uterine atrophy
Therapeutic uses: Contraception
Toxicities: Same as those of estrogen and progesterone
Other: consistent dose of estrogen and progestin with only taking 21 days
Biphasic ortho-novum
Class: Combination pill
Mechanism of action: constant level of estrogen suppresses FSH and LH
progesterone suppresses LH surge, thickens cervical mucus, and causes uterine atrophy
Therapeutic uses: Contraception
Toxicities: Same as those of estrogen and progesterone
Other: Fixed estrogen dose, progestin dose increased days 11-21
Triphasic ortho-novum
Class: Combination pill
Mechanism of action: constant level of estrogen suppresses FSH and LH
progesterone suppresses LH surge, thickens cervical mucus, and causes uterine atrophy
Therapeutic uses: Contraception
Toxicities: Same as those of estrogen and progesterone
Other: Fixed or variable estrogen dose
progestin dose increases in three doses (1-7, 8-14, 15-21)
Mini-pill
Class: Progestin only
Mechanism of action: As progestin
Therapeutic uses: contraception (not as effective as combination pill but good when estrogen contraindicated such as in risk of endometrial cancer or when woman is lactating)
Toxicity: More likely to produce an irregular menstrual cycle as estrogen provides stability to the endometrium
Suppresses likelihood of endometrial cancer
Levonorgestrel (Plan B)
Class: synthetic progestin
Mechanism of action: Unknown
Therapeutic uses: Prevent implantation
Toxicities: Likely the same toxicities as combination drugs
Other: Must be taken within 72 hours of coitus
Mifepristone (RU-486)
Class: Anti-progesterone, glucocorticoid receptor antagonist
Mechanism: Competitively inhibits progesterone receptor leading to detachment of the fetus
Glucocorticoid receptor antagonist
Therapeutic uses: Abortion, Cushing syndrome
Toxicities: N/A
Other: Must be taken early on in pregnancy (by day 49). Taken orally and must be under supervision of doctor prepared to surgically provide abortion if this method is incomplete.
