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Oral Contraception and EHC. For Health Advisors, Health Information Staff and Nurse Advisors. Your Name Medicines Information Pharmacist Your Medicines Information Service. Aim.
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Oral Contraception and EHC For Health Advisors, Health Information Staff and Nurse Advisors Your Name Medicines Information Pharmacist Your Medicines Information Service
Aim To enable all staff answering Oral Contraceptive and Emergency Hormonal Contraception calls to work within role competencies and fulfil them safely, reliably and effectively in this area of care.
Learning Outcomes • Be familiar with different types of oral contraceptives • Understand how emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) and oral contraceptives work • Gather necessary information to be able to clarify the question • Interpret information about contraceptives and turn it into appropriate advice
Male and female condoms Intrauterine device Diaphragms and caps Contraceptive injection Contraceptive implant Contraceptive patch Intrauterine system Sterilisation Natural family planning Combined pill Progestogen-only pill Emergency contraception Contraception
Oral Contraception • Combined oral contraception (COC) • Progestogen only pill (POP) • Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC)
Contains oestrogen and progestogen Take one tablet daily for 21 days (28 for ED) followed by a 7 day pill free period Most effective preparation for general use With optimal use, > 99% effective Combined Oral Contraception
Combined Oral Contraception • Monophasic • fixed amount of an oestrogen and a progestogen in each active tablet • Biphasic/Triphasic • varying amounts of the two hormones according to the stage of the cycle • ED (every day) • includes 7 days of placebo tablets
Oral Contraception • Combined oral contraception (COC) • Progestogen only pill (POP) • Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC)
Progestogen only pill • Contains one active ingredient - progesterone • Taken continuously – no break • Offers an alternative when oestrogens are contraindicated • Efficacy dependent on the meticulousness of the user
Oral Contraception • Combined oral contraception (COC) • Progestogen only pill (POP) • Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC)
Emergency Hormonal Contraception • Levonelle 1500 (one step) • Contains high dose progesterone (levonorgesterel) • One 1500mcg tablet taken as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse (up to 72 hours after) • Preferably within 12 hours, no later than 72 hours
Emergency Hormonal Contraception • Taking the dose as soon as possible increases efficacy • Available from: • A & E • GP • Walk in Centres • Family Planning Clinics • Sexual Health Clinics • Community Pharmacies
When is EHC indicated? • Unprotected sexual intercourse • Reduced efficacy of other forms of contraception: • Torn, leaking condom • Missed pills • Late implant or injection • Detached contraceptive patch
How does EHC work? • Dependent on point in the menstrual cycle • Either prevents or delays ovulation, prevents fertilisation or prevents implantation of the fertilised egg into the uterus. • Clinical opinion is that EHC is not an abortifacient
Missed Contraceptive Pills • COC • 7 days of pill taking put the ovaries to sleep • More than 7 days since pill taking may wake the ovaries up • 7 pill free days are safe • POP • Not for the forgetful!!!!!
Missed Contraceptive Pills • Which brand of contraceptive pill? • How many pills are left in the pack? • How long ago should it have been taken? • Intercourse since missed pill? • Any action taken?
Taken too many pills • Which brand of contraceptive pill? • How many were taken? • Which pills did you take? • How long ago did you take it?
Taken wrong pill from packet • Which brand of contraceptive pill? • Which day of the packet should you have taken? • Which pill did you take? • How long ago did you take it?
Vomiting & Diarrhoea • If vomiting within 3 hours of taking pill then absorption will be reduced and may be ineffective. • Diarrhoea alone without vomiting has to be severe to reduce the absorption of the pill.
Vomiting & Diarrhoea • When did vomiting occur relative to taking pill? • How severe is the diarrhoea? • Which brand of contraceptive pill? • How many pills left in the pack?
Drug Interactions • The effectiveness of COC, POP and EHC will be reduced by interaction with drugs that are enzyme inducers • Broad spectrum antibiotics may reduce effectiveness of COC by altering the bacterial flora of the bowel
Drug interactions • Which brand of contraceptive pill? • Taking another drug or planning to? • Prescription • OTC • Herbal • Under medical supervision? • How many tablets left in pack? • Active sexual relationship?
Case Scenarios • Think about what background information you need to answer the enquiry • Document information used to answer enquiry • What would you advise the caller?
Learning Outcomes • Be familiar with different types of oral contraceptives • Understand how emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) and oral contraceptives work • Gather necessary information to be able to clarify the question • Interpret information about contraceptives and turn it into appropriate advice