Contraception Flashcards
(224 cards)
What is contraception?
The intentional prevention of pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse
When are women most fertile during a 28 day cycle?
10-17 days
What is the combined oral contraceptive pill?
A pill containing a combination of oestrogen and progesterone
How effective is the combined oral contraceptive pill with perfect use and typical use?
Perfect Use - 99%
Typical Use - 91%
In what three ways does the combined oral contraceptive pill prevent conception?
Ovulation prevention
Cervical mucus thickening
Endometrium thinning
What is the primary mechanism in which the combined oral contraceptive pill prevents conception?
Ovulation prevention
How does the combined oral contraceptive pill prevent ovulation?
This is due to the fact that oestrogen and progesterone have a negative feedback effect on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary and therefore they suppress the release of GnRH, LH and FSH
When LH and FSH are absent, ovulation doesn’t occur
How does cervical mucus thickening prevent conception?
This prevents sperm from reaching and thus fertilising the egg
How does a thinned endometrium prevent conception?
This reduces the chance of successful implantation of a fertilised egg
What are the two types of combined oral contraceptive pills?
Monophasic
Multiphasic
What are monophasic combined oral contraceptive pills?
They contain the same amount of hormone in each pill
What are multiphasic combined oral contraceptive pills?
They contain varying amounts of the hormones to match the normal cyclical hormonal changes more closely
What are the two dosing regimes for the combined oral contraceptive pill?
Standard
Continuous dosing
What is the standard combined oral contraceptive pill regimen?
It involves individuals taking the combined pill for 21 days with a hormone free week
Describe the mechanism behind the standard combined oral contraceptive pill regimen
The lining of the endometrium is maintained in a stable state while taking the contraceptive pill
When the pill is stopped the lining of the uterus breaks down and sheds
This leads to a withdrawal bleed
This is not classed as a menstrual period as it is not part of the natural menstrual cycle
What is the continuous dosing combined oral contraceptive pill regimen?
It involves individuals taking the combined pill for 63 days (three packs) with a hormone free week
What are the two advantages of the continuous dosing combined oral contraceptive pill regimen?
This avoids the inconvenient withdrawal bleed
It avoids individuals forgetting to restart their pill after the break
Is it safe for individuals to have sexual intercourse during the hormone free week of the combined oral contraceptive pill?
Yes - as long as they remember to start their new packet
What two investigations should be conducted prior to individuals starting the combined contraceptive pill?
Blood pressure
BMI
When do individuals start the combined oral contraceptive pill?
First day of the menstrual cycle
How long does the combined oral contraceptive pill take to offer protection?
7 days
When would additional contraception be required when starting the combined oral contraceptive pill? How long for?
If it is started after day five of the menstrual cycle
Individuals will need to take extra contraception for the first seven days of consistent pill use before they are protected from pregnancy
What advice is given to individuals when they are switching between different types of the combined oral contraceptive pill?
We advise them to finish one pack then immediately start the new pack without the pill-free period
What advice is given to individuals when switching from the progesterone only pill to the combined oral contraceptive pill?
They can switch at any time, but seven days of extra contraception is required