Advanced Pharmacology: Birth Control for Smokers

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Treatment Goals
Contraceptive Methods
Patient-Centered Teaching Points
Contraceptive Choice for a Smoker
Conclusion
References

Introduction

26-year-old Claudia asks for professional help to prevent her pregnancy after giving birth to two children. In the past, she used condoms and oral contraceptive pills. Now, she wants to use a more reliable birth control method, avoiding sterilization. She has a mild hypertension history during her first pregnancy. This time, she needs effective treatment with clear goals and methods being identified.

Treatment Goals

Today, millions of women aim at controlling and preventing their pregnancies. For example, in the USA, more than 50% of unintended pregnancies with 40% of them ended with abortions and other unpredictable health problems (Birgisson, Zhao, Secura, Madden, & Peipert, 2015; Curtis & Peipert, 2017). Claudia wants to avoid such problems. The main treatment goals for Claudia today may vary. They include learning the options concerning pregnancy prevention, taking tests to check the current condition of the body, and evaluating her emotional state to make sure that no panic or anxiety disorders influence her decision. It is also important to gather clinical and social information about the patient (Gavin et al., 2015). Finally, the necessary goal is to choose a method that does not provoke any allergies or other health changes in the patient.

Contraceptive Methods

Contraception is not only a method to avoid pregnancy. According to the guidelines given by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it is a good chance for women and men to place and space birth, prevent unwanted health conditions, and reduce the number of abortions (Gavin et al., 2015). Possible contraceptive methods for Claudia are the use of an intrauterine device (IUD) or oral contraceptive pills. The rationale for IUD is the possibility to control birth without the partner’s participation and the necessity to visit a doctor just once for the device to be implanted. As a rule, a 100% guarantee to avoid pregnancy is given. Among the existing variety of methods, IUDs remain the most cost-effective option for millions of women. Though IUDs are 20 times as effective as pills (Curtis & Peipert, 2017), oral contraception is still an option for Claudia. This method can be approved as it is a good chance to regulate menstruation and relieve menstruation-related pain. Many women find it comfortable to use pills. Finally, the use of pills may reduce the risk of having inflammation processes.

Patient-Centered Teaching Points

In case Claudia chooses IUDs, she has to be ready for several important lessons. First, a medical worker should inform her about the presence of hormonal and non-hormonal types of IUDs. The second teaching point is the length of its possible usage. As a rule, hormonal devices have to be replaced in 3-5 years and non-hormonal in 10 years. The next important issue is that IUDs do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, the patient has to take care of her health with the help of condoms. Another lesson is based on its location. It is placed directly in the patient’s vagina and can slip out. Finally, menstrual cramps may be either increased or decreased, depending on her health peculiarities. A doctor has to inform about these possible changes beforehand.

Contraceptive Choice for a Smoker

In case the patient smoked 10-15 cigarettes per day, it would be suggested to avoid any contraception methods that contained estrogen or other hormones that could increase the risks of blood clot complications. Heart attacks and strokes can be other unpleasant outcomes of birth control for smokers (Gavin et al., 2015). The best alternative can be a non-hormonal IUD.

Conclusion

In general, Claudia proves herself to be a good mother and a person who takes care of her health. She tries to avoid unwanted pregnancy but does not deny a chance to have a baby with time. Her decision to consult a professional helps to clarify the alternatives, including the use of oral pills and IUDs.

References

Birgisson, N. E., Zhao, Q., Secura, G. M., Madden, T., & Peipert, J. F. (2015). Preventing unintended pregnancy: The contraceptive CHOICE project in review. Journal of Women’s Health, 24(5), 349-353.

Curtis, K. M., & Peipert, J. F. (2017). Long-acting reversible contraception. The New England Journal of Medicine, 376(5), 461-468.

Gavin, L., Moskosky, S., Carter, M., Curtis, K., Glass, E., Godfrey, E., … Zapata, L. (2015). Providing quality family planning services: Recommendations of CDC and the U.S. office of population affairs.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Recommendations and Reports, 63(4), 1-54. Web.

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