Sexual health Flashcards
What are the advantages to barrier contraception (male/ female condoms and diaphragm)
- not contraindicated by any condition other than latex allergy, when others can be used as effectively
- widely available and simple to use
- protective against STIs (male condom, femidom provides some protection)
- no hormones
- diaphragm inserted up to 3 hrs before intercourse, femidom up to 8 hrs before
What are the disadvantages to barrier contraceptives
- perfect use rarely achieved
- may reduce sensitivity and/ or arousal
- lack of motivation to use every time
- femidoms may be uncomfortable and/ or noisy and require prior planning
- diaphragms associated with increased risk UTIs and STI transmission not reduced and may need refitting
- failure rate 2% with condom with perfect use and 16% in reality, female condoms and diaphragms have even higher failure rates
How do combined hormonal contraceptives work
inhibit ovulation due to negative feedback response of oestrogen and progesterone on the HPA, this prevents LH surge and so preventing ovulation.
The progesterone also inhibits proliferation of the endometrium, creating unfavourable conditions for implantation and increases thickness of the cervical mucus, stopping sperm getting in.
What are the different types of combined hormonal contraceptives?
COCP:
- monophasic (each pill has same levels of O and P, eg microgynon, 21 days on, 7 off)
- phasic (O and P changes throughout cycle, can be bi tri or quadraphasic- eg qlaira which is 28 days no break but 2 pills are inactive)
- also low oestrogen pills
Transdermal patch:
- stuck onto upper arm, buttock or back
- ortho evra is the brand name- give O+ P and use 1 per week for 3 weeks then week break
- can be used while bathing and swimming
Contraceptive vag ring:
- stays in for 21 days then removed for 7 then insert new one
What are the advantages to combined hormonal contraception
- non invasive
- more effective than barrier if taken correctly
- no interruption to sex
- menses become more regular, lighter and less painful
- reduced risk ovary uterus and colon ca
- reduced risk functional ovarian cyst
- normal fertility returns immediatly after stopping
- can control menses by carrying on taking pill
What are the disadvantages to combined hormonal contraceptives
- user dependant
- some temporary adverse effects inc headaches, breast tenderness, mood changes
- blood pressure may increase
- some women experience breakthrough bleeding and spotting in first few months
- increased risk VTE
- small increased risk MI and stroke
- small increased risk cervical and breast ca
- no protection from STIs
Give 5 contraindications of combined hormonal contraception
- BMI >35
- breast feeding
- smoking over age of 35
- hypertension
- history of or a fhx of VTE
- prolonged immobility due to surgery or disability
- DM with complications eg retinopathy
- hx migraines with aura
- breast cancer of primary liver tumours
how do progesterone only pills work?
- thickens cervical mucus so sperm cant get in
- thins endometrium which inhibits implantation
- most also will inhibit ovulation
Describe the advantages of progesterone only pills
- more effective than barrier when used properly
- no interruption to sex
- can be used in many pts which COCP is contraindicated
- may reduce risk of endometrial ca
Describe the disadvantages of POP
- user dependant and has to be taken at same time every day
- can produce irregular menstruation (4 in 10) or amenorrhoea (in 2 in 10)
- side effects such as headaches, breast tenderness, skin changes
- 30% increased risk ovarian cysts
- small increased risk breast cancer
State 4 contraindications of POP
- current or past history of breast cancer
- liver cirrhosis or tumours
- low efficacy in women over the weight of 70kg
- stroke or coronary heart disease
How does nexplanon (the progesterone only implant) work and how long does it work for?
- main mechanism is that it inhibits ovulation
- also thickens cervical mucus
- thins endometrium
- lasts for 3 yrs
Describe the advantages of the progesterone implant
- extremely effective and not user dependant
- can be used when COCP is contraindicated
- dont even have to think about contraception for 3 yrs
- can be used when breast feeding
- normal fertility returns as soon as it is removed
- effective in woman of all bodymass (need to replace earlier if low BMI)
- may reduce endometrial ca risk
Describe the disadvantages of the implant
- 50% get changes in menstrual bleeding and bleeding patterns likely to remain irregular
- fitting and removing implant causes some pain, bruising and irritation
- small increased risk breast ca
- implant can sometimes break or bend insitu
- no STI protection
Give 4 contraindications for the implant
- pregnancy
- unexplained vaginal bleeding
- liver cirrhosis or tumours
- hx breast cancer
- stroke or tia while using the implant
How often are progesterone injections needed to be given?
- vary between brands
- depo-provera is 12 weekly IM injection
- satana press is 13 weeks
- noristerat less commonly used now as is 8 weeks
What are the key adv and disadv to progesterone injections
adv: can be used when breast feeding, when BMI >35, effective and not user dependant, no drug interactions
Disadv: not rapidly reversible- fertility may take up to a year to return, many gain weight, 50% stop within a year due to altered bleeding patterns and persistent bleeding. Contraindicated by pregancy, breast ca, diabetes w/ vascular disease
What are the two types of intrauterine contraceptives and how do they work?
IUD: copper coil- releases copper which makes uterus unfavourable for sperm and inhibits fertilisation and implantation, effective immediately
IUS: mirena coil, releases progesterone which thins endometrium to prevent implantation and thickens cervical mucus, effective immediately if fitted within first 7 days of cycle, if not takes 7 days
Give 5 contraindications for IUS and IUD
- infection (hx PID, recent exposure to STI, recent uterus infection)- need STI test 2 weeks prior to insertion
- current pregnancy or up to 4 weeks post partum
- uterine structural abnormality
- gynae maligancy
- unexplained vaginal bleeding
- allergy to copper (IUD only)
- current DVT, PE, liver disease or pmh breast cancer also for IUS
Describe the main advantages to the IUS and IUD
- very effective
- IUS also treated dysmenorrhoea and menorrhage
- IUD can be used as emergency contraceptive up to 5 days after UPSI
- fetility normally returns immediatly after removal
- can be fitted at any stage in cycle
- can be used while breast feeding
- can be used in most women who are contraindicated by COCP
- IUD uses no hormones
What are the disadvantages to IUS and IUD
- no STI protection
- risk of ascending or iatrogenic infection
- risk of uterine perforation at time of fitting
- risk of body expelling IUS/IUD
- IUD makes periods more painful and heavy
- irregular bleeding for up to 6 months after insertion
- coil insertion may be painful
- higher risk of ectopic
- increased risk of seizures in epileptics at time of cervical dilation
What are the two types of pills licensed for use as emergency contraception and when can they be used
- levonorgestrel 1.5mg tablet: progesterone only, can delay ovulation by 5-7 days, after which any sperm is non viable, licensed for use within 72 hrs of UPSI
- ulipristal acetate (30mg tablet)- progesterone receptor modulator, also delays ovulation by 5-7 days, can be used within 120 hrs of UPSI
- IUD: 5 days after
What are the contraindications for the two morning after pills
Levonorgestrel: none, but efficiacy may be reduced by malabsorbtion eg crohns and enzyme inducing drugs eg rifampicin (if refuses IUD they just take double dose)
Ulipristal acetate:
- diseases of malabsorbtion eg crohns
- hypersensitivty to UA
- severe hepatic dysfunction
- enzyme inducers
- breast feeding
- asthma insufficiently controlled by corticosteroids
- drugs increasing gastric pH eg omeprazole/ ranitidine
What is gillicks competence and fraser guidelines?
- gillicks: concerned with determining a childs capacity to consent
- fraser guidelines: used specifically to decide if a child can consent to contraceptive or sexual health advice and treatment
What are the fraser guidelines?
A child can be given advice and consent to treatment relating to sexual health without parental consent as long as:
- they are sufficiently mature and intelligent to understand the nature and implications of the treatment
- they cannot be persuaded to tell their parents
- theyre very likely to continue having sexual intercourse with or without contraceptives
- their physical or mental health would likely suffer if they dont get the advice or treatment
- the advice or treatment is in the young persons best interests
List 4 RFs for thrush (candida albicans) infection?
- pregnancy
- diabetes
- use of broad spectrum abx
- use of corticosteroids
- immune surpression of compromised immune system
Describe the clinical features of thrush
- prutitis vulvae
- vaginal discharge (usually white, curd like and non offensive)
- dysuria + dyspareunia
- erythema and swelling of vulva
- satellite lesions: red pustular lesions with superficial white/ creamy pseudomembranous plagues what can be scraped off
- white curd like plaques may be visible on anterior vaginal wall
How should thrush be diagnosed and managed initially?
- if uncomplicated, no investigations are necessary. If complicated (preg, diabetes, immunocompromise) then do vaginal smear and microscopy
- intravaginal antifungal eg clotrimazole
- oral antifungal eg fluconazole
- topical imidazole can be given with oral or intravaginal treatments to address vulval symptoms or alone if age 12-15
- advise them to avoid douching, cleaning the vulval area with soaps/ shower gels, tight fitting/ non absorbant clothing, biological washing powder and fabric conditioner
- advise them to wash with soap substitute, use simle emollient to moisturise vulval areas and consider probiotics
How should thrush thats not resolved within 7-14 days be managed?
- consider alternative diagnosis by measuring vaginal pH (candida<4.5, vaginosis or trichonmonas >4.5) and taking swab for microscopy and culture
- consider predisposing factors and address them
- consider concordance with meds and administration
- give extended course
- refer or seek advise if: age 12-15, doubt diagnosis, symptoms not improving and treatment failure unexplained, non albicans candida or treatment fails twice
How should thrush be treated in pregnancy?
- give intravaginal antifungal
- do not give oral treatment
- treat vulval symptoms with topical antifungal
- refer to GUM if suspect STI
- advise them to return if not resolved in 7-14 days
What causes bacterial vaginosis?
- normal flora is disturbed leading to REDUCED lactobacilli
- NORMALLY lacobacilli usually produce hydrogen peroxide and reduce vag pH to <4.5 and inhibit growth of organisms
- the infection is commonly polymicrobial but gardnerella vaginalis, anaerobes and mycoplasmas are most commonly found
Give 5 RFs for bacterial vagonisis
- sexual activity (particularly new partner of multiple partners)
- used of IUD
- receptive oral sex
- presence of STI
- vaginal douching or using soaps/ vaginal deoderant
- recent abx use
- ethnicity
- smoking
Describe the clinical features of bacterial vaginosis
- 50% asymptomatic
- thin, white/ grey, offensive fishy smelling homogenous discharge
- not usually associated with soreness, itching irritation
how is bacterial vaginosis diagnosed?
- high vaginal smear and gram stain showing clue cells (vag epithelial cells studded with gram variable coccobacilli)
- reduced numbers of lactobacillus
- absence of pus cells
- vaginal ph >4.5