Block 5 izzy > Contraception > Flashcards

Contraception Flashcards

(36 cards)

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1
Q

Contraception: What are the advantages of contraception?

A

Choice

control (for personal or medical reasons)

Family spacing (and associated health concerns)

Cost

saves lives globally

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2
Q

What are some of the disadvantages of contraception?

A

Changes in sexual habits

Increased promiscuity

medical complications

cost

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3
Q

What are some of the key considerations in contraceptive consultation?

A
  • Health (obesity)
  • age (16 yrs and consent, vs older woman)
  • desire for fertility
  • social/ religious/ ethical (e.g. certain religins dictate no contraception may be used)
  • education
  • compliance
  • cost
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4
Q

Contraceptive methods

Which is the least reliable?

A
  1. Natural/ physiological (generally least reliable)
  2. Barrier (Condoms/ female condom)
  3. Hormonal
  4. Surgical
  5. Overlap –> use more than one type.
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5
Q

Natural physiological methods of contraception?

A
  1. Rhythm method –> prevent sperm/ egg interaction
  2. Coitus interruptus
  3. Lactation –> prevent ovulation (theoretically and only with exclusive regular feeding)
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6
Q

Rhythm method: what is it?

A

Meaning in rhythm with a woman’s natural fertility

Ovum has limited period of fertility.

Avoid intercouse in the fertility window 4-5 days prior and 1-2 days after a predicted ovulation.

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7
Q

Rhythm method:

Advantages?

Disadvantages?

A

Advantages:

  • Cheap/ no side effect
  • no contraindications
  • no religious/ ethical issues

Disadvantages:

  • Limit sexual activity
  • Failure rate, failure of compliance (however failure rate more recently mitigated by ovulation tests).
  • Requires Education (3-6 months)
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8
Q

What methods may be used to predict the timing of the fertile window?

A
  1. Basal body temperature (rises post ovulation)
  2. Vaginal mucus (watery pre ovulation)
  3. Hormone levels (spike in oestrogen pre ovulation.)
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9
Q

Lactation: MOA?

A

Regular and exclusive breastfeeding:

Prolactin inhibits the secretion of FSH

suppression of the HPO axis –> no ovulation

Six months

–> risk of failure rate and miscommunication risk between dr. and patient

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10
Q

Coitus interruptus : MOA?

A

Penile withdrawal before ejaculation

Significant failure rate

Advantages and disadvantages to rhythm method: (Cheap/ no SE’s/ religious or ethical BUT Limits sexual activity, FAILURE RATE).

No STI protection

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11
Q

Barrier methods

What are they?

MOA?

A
  1. Condom (disadvantage –> risk of a tear)
  2. Diaphragm
  3. Cervical cap
  4. Plus –> spermicide

MOA –> prevents sperm/ egg interaction

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12
Q

Barrier method: Diaphragm/ cap

MOA

Advantages

Disadvantages

A
  • MOA: Covers the cervix, preventing sperm egg interactions.
  • Advantages:
    • Can be covered in spermicide as extra precaution
    • not usually felt by partner during intercourse
    • increased agency over fertility, no need for hormones
    • discreet
  • Disadvantages:
    • Requires professional fitting
    • Needs to be left in 6 hours after sex
    • requires proper education on its use
    • can cause infection if it is left in for too long
    • NO STI PROTECTION
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13
Q

Condom:

MOA

Advantages

Disadvantages

A

MOA: prevent sperm- egg interaction

Advantages: Cheap, readily available, STI PROTECTION

Disadvantages: Latex allergy, some sensation loss/ interruption / accidents, education requires (beware oil based lubricant).

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14
Q

What is LARC?

Moa?

A

Long acting reversible contraception (LARC), also known as intrauterine contraceptive device (ICD) or intrauterine device (IUD)

MOA: The copper IUD releases copper which is a spermacide and mechanically prevents implantation

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15
Q

Advantages of the LARC/ IUD?

A

Advantages:

  • Long term (12 yrs)
  • will not limit/ interrupt sexual activity
  • IUCD copper no artifical hormones
  • amenorrhea (no period yaaaas)
  • decrease dysmenorrhea (pain during period)
  • partner unaware, however strings required to know still in place, risk of pulling.
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16
Q

Disadvantages of LARC/IUCD?

Study These Flashcards
A

Decreased libido

irregular bleeding

amenorrhea (may be seen as benefit)

cost

invasive

NO STI PROTECTION

17
Q

When is IUCD particularly indicated for?

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A
  • Long lasting contraception needed (last 1- 12 yrs)
  • When you think compliance may be an issue
  • Cost effectiveness
  • Older/ parous –> useful in older/ parous people (difficult to insert in preparous cervix)
  • Emergency contraception if implanted within 5 days of unprotected sex (copper is embryotoxic).
18
Q

Complications of IUCD?

Study These Flashcards
A

Expulsion

perforation

infection (pelvic inflammatory disease)

Bacteria inserted via IUCD insertion may lead to fallopian tube closure, and increased risk of ectopic pregnancy

19
Q

IUDC side effects?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Copper/ inert –> bleeding (can be heavy or irregular or lighter), cramping (can be better or worse)
20
Q

Terminating a pregnancy:

Legal at what stages of pregnancy?

Causes?

Used as an opportunity to?

Study These Flashcards
A

Abortion is legal to 24/40 weeks in UK.

Due to failure of contraception or lack of contraception

Can be the last chance to educate.

21
Q

Terminating a pregnancy:

Methods

Study These Flashcards
A

Methods:

Up to 9/40 weeks –> MEDICATION:

Mifepristone/ misoprostol ( extra –> mifepristone = antiprogesterone, blocks effects of progesterone making cervix easier to open, promotes contraction of uterus when exposed to misoprostol. Misoprostol = prostaglandin analogue causes strong myometrial contractions and expulsion of tissue. )

Surgical 9-15/ 40 weeks: (up to 15 weeks)

Vaccum aspiration followed by dilation and curettage (dilation of the cervix and surgical removal of the lining of the uterus by scraping/ scooping)

22
Q

Surgical sterilisation: MOA?

M and F method?

Disadvantages?

Study These Flashcards
A

MOA -> prevent sperm egg interaction

M –> vasectomy (failure rate 0.05% possibly less)

F –> tubal ligation (failure rate 0.5%)

Disadvantages:

  • Irreversible
  • counselling recommended due to knock on psychological effects
  • cost
  • invasive
  • failures
  • no STI protection
23
Q

Oral hormone contraceptives (steroidal contraceptives/ “the pill”)

What is the general MOA?

Two main types?

Study These Flashcards
A

Synthetic steroid hormones that mimic the functions of oestrogens and progesterone.

1) Combined oral contraceptive pill --> oestrogen and progesterone

2) Oral mini pill contraceptive –> Progesterone only oral contraceptive pill

24
Q

What are the molecular mechanisms of the oral contraceptive pill?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Oral contraceptives act upon oestrogen and progesterone receptors which are INTRACELLULAR TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS
    • ER alpha and ER beta (oestrogen); PR-A and PR-B (progesterone)
25
Do not need to worry about this but: names of synthetic oestrogen names of synthetic progesterone
Synthetic Oestrogen --\> ethinylestradiol Synthetic progesterone --\> desogestrel and levonorgesterl
26
Pharmokinetics of the oral contraceptives/ steroid hormones? Action IC?
* Steroid hormones diffuse across cell membranes to reach IC receptors * Binding of hormone to latent complex receptor made up of HSP90 chaperone molecule * Hormone binding displaces HSP90, forms dimeric active complex * translocates into cell nucleus * active receptor dimers then form and influence extensive gene expression
27
What is the primary MOA of oral contraceptives?
Primary MOA -\> Suppression of ovulation Ovulation is driven by endocrine dynamics and the relative TIMING of hormone secretion and activity Drugs based on oestrogen/ progesterone taken at right times **disrupt critical endocrine events required for ovulation** **progesterone can exert additional effects that can disrupt fertilisation and implantation.**
28
Where is progesterone produced? How do progesterone levels change during the menstrual cycle?
**Progesterone produced by the corpus luteum during menstrual cycle post ovulation.** High during the luteal phase and very low during the follicular phase. With **NO embryo** implantation, the **corpus luteum disintegrates,** ***progesterone levels fall, contributing to menses.*** The cycle resumes. With **POSITIVE embryo** implantation, the ***corpus luteum is sustained*** and ***progesterone levels remain HIGH*** -\> **promoting pregnancy.**
29
In which phases of the menstrual cycle is progesterone particularly low? In which phase is it particularly high?
High during the luteal phase --\> suppresses secretion of FSH and LH (do not want follicular maturation during this phase of the cycle, preparing for pregnancy) LH surge critical for ovulation Progesterone Low in follicular phase --\> allows FSH and LH release to mature follicles and ovulate
30
What is the action of progesterone alone? Why would we use a combination of oestrogen and progesterone?
Progesterone --\> negative feedback which inhibits luteinizing hormone and FSH release from the anterior pituitary gland, essentially preventing maturation and ovulation. High doses are required but can cause significant nausea and not 100% effective. Combination of oestrogen and progesterone augment one another, when administered at specific time achieves \> 99.8% effectiveness
31
When is the progesterone only "mini pill" particularly indicated?
Progesterone only pill used for **emergency contraception** and in **situations when oestrogen derived complications/ risks occur.**
32
MOA progesterone
Progesterone acts on ant pit and hypoT in -ve feedback system suppresses FSH and LH synthesis High progesterone early in follicular phase lowers FSH and LH synthesis/ activity -\> inhibit ovulation
33
Effects of progesterone on endometrium?
Asynchronous high level of progesterone: **inhibits endometrial gland development --\> makes implantation less favourable** **Thickens cervical mucus --\> inhibits sperm motility**
34
Common adverse effects of oral contraceptives? Increases the risk of what conditions?
**Depression, Nausea, Breakthough bleeding (Do Not Bone)** **Increased risk of CV complications w oestrogen containing oral contraceptive:** **HITS:** **HTN** **IHD** **Thromboembolism** **stroke** -\> plus evidence of slight increase in breast CA risk w long term use
35
Benefits of contraception (beyond contraceptive effects)?
Relief of endometriosis, dysmenorrhoea (painful period) , menorrhagia (heavy, prolonged bleeding) Acne control in women (oestrogen) (note can be side effect of progesterone pill) Progestogens reduce risk of endometrial cancer (orally and with IUS)
36
What is an intrauterine system? How long does it work for? How effective is it? what can it also treat?
Intrauterine system (e.g. mirena coil) incorporates a progestogen releasing polymer component into the intrauterine device. Works for 3-5 yrs Very effective contraceptive system can also treat conditions such as menorrhagia.
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