Oral contraceptives

A 23-years-old woman desires a combined oral contraceptive for pregnancy protection.

Questions and tasks

1. Describe the hormonal changes and associated changes of ovaries and uterus during ovarian (menstruation) cycle.

2. Which of the following patient factors would lead a health professional to recommend an alternative form of contraception?

a) evidence of hirsutism

b) history of gastro-esophageal reflux disease and is currently taking omeprazole

c) history of pelvic inflammatory disease

d) history of migraine headache that is well controlled by sumatriptan

e) she plans to use this contraceptive for about 1 year and will then attempt to become pregnant

3. What are other contraindications for administration of combined contraceptives?

4. Which of the following is an estrogen that is used in most combined hormonal contraceptives?

a) clomiphene

b) estrone

c) ethinyl estradiol

d) diethylstilbestrol (DES)

e) norgestrel

5. Diethylstilbestrol should never be used in pregnant women because it is associated with which of the following?

a) deep vein trombosis

b) feminization of the external genitalia of male offspring

c) infertility and development of vaginal cancer in female offspring

d) miscarriages

e) virilization of the external genitalia of female offspring

6. Which other options of contraception are available for this patient except of combined pills?