Question

A 36-year-old woman comes to the clinic stating she has used emergency contraception after intercourse six times in the past year. She smokes one pack per day and has a negative medical history for hypertension, cancer, and DM. What teaching does she need about emergency contraception use and what would you tell her about the advantages and disadvantages of oral contraceptives and IUDs.

Answer 1

Try to use the emergency contraception pills only if there is failure in use of other contraceptive methods with minimal side effects. Take it if only there is condom breakage, or failure in physical barrier methods. Smoking cigarettes while using the oral contraceptives can increase the risk of getting heart issues. They will restrict the blood flow to the heart and blood vessel constriction may occur. So make sure that you are not smoking while having your medication. Chances of stroke is also high in smokers having pills.

Oral contraceptives:

Advantages:

Oral contraceptives will not interrept the sexual process.

Risk of ovarian and colon cancer can be reduced by oral contraception.

Pre menstrual syndrome can be reduced

Pelvic inflammatory diseases can be reduced.

Combination pills can reduce menstrual cramps and can lower risk of ectopic pregnancy

Disadvantage:

Breast tenderness and other common side effects like nausea, headaches, mood swings etc may occur. Missed periods and decreased libido can sometimes occur.

IUD:

Advantage:

It is a long term reversible contraception. It can last for about 10 years.

It is more effect and high success rate.

It doesn’t cause weight gain.

It will not effect the mood during the sex and the sex drive.

It will not interact with any other medication taking by the individual.

Disadvantage:

Menorrhagia is the commonly reported complaint of this.

Slight rist of uterine infection can be occured while insertion.

Uterine perforation can be seen in womens but is very rare.

there is no protection against sexually transmitted infection while in use of IUds