A nurse in a clinic is caring for a client who has been taking oral contraceptives for several months and reports frequent breakthrough bleeding during her cycle.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Instruct the client to take two pills daily until bleeding stops
Advise the client to stop taking oral contraceptives immediately
Tell the client to avoid smoking while taking oral contraceptives
Suggest that the client switch to a higher-dose formulation
The Correct Answer is D
The correct answer is choice D. The client should switch to a higher-dose formulation of oral contraceptives. Breakthrough bleeding is a common side effect of low-dose birth control pills, especially in the first months of use. It may indicate that the estrogen dose is too low to suppress the growth of the endometrium.
A higher-dose formulation may reduce or eliminate breakthrough bleeding by providing more estrogen.
Choice A is wrong because taking two pills daily until bleeding stops is not a recommended way to manage breakthrough bleeding.
It may cause side effects such as nausea, headache, or breast tenderness. It may also increase the risk of blood clots.
Choice B is wrong because stopping oral contraceptives immediately is not advisable unless there is a medical reason to do so.
Stopping oral contraceptives may cause irregular bleeding, ovulation, and pregnancy.
The client should consult with their provider before discontinuing any medication.
Choice C is wrong because smoking does not cause breakthrough bleeding, but it does increase the risk of serious complications from oral contraceptives, such as stroke, heart attack, or blood clots. The client should avoid smoking while taking any hormonal contraceptive, regardless of whether they experience breakthrough bleeding or not.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A. Elevated liver enzymes.Medroxyprogesterone injections can cause liver damage and impair its function.Elevated liver enzymes are a sign of liver injury and should be reported to the provider immediately.
Choice B is wrong because decreased hemoglobin is not a common side effect of medroxyprogesterone injections.
Decreased hemoglobin can indicate anemia, which can have many causes unrelated to medroxyprogesterone injections.
Choice C is wrong because increased platelets are not a common side effect of medroxyprogesterone injections.
Increased platelets can indicate inflammation, infection, or cancer, which can have many causes unrelated to medroxyprogesterone injections.
Choice D is wrong because decreased potassium is not a common side effect of medroxyprogesterone injections.
Decreased potassium can indicate dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting, or diuretic use, which can have many causes unrelated to medroxyprogesterone injections.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A.The nurse should tell the client that if she misses one pill, she should take the missed pill as soon as possible and continue with the next pill at the usual time.This will ensure that she maintains a continuous hormonal exposure and does not extend the hormone-free interval beyond 7 days.She does not need to use extra contraception.
Choice B is wrong because taking two pills at once and skipping the next pill will disrupt the hormonal balance and may cause side effects such as nausea or breakthrough bleeding.Choice C is wrong because discarding the missed pill and taking the next pill at the usual time will shorten the duration of hormonal exposure and increase the risk of ovulation.Choice D is wrong because stopping taking the pills for the rest of the cycle and using a backup method of contraception will expose the client to an unnecessary hormone-free interval and may compromise her contraceptive efficacy.
COCs are combined oral contraceptives that contain synthetic estrogen and progestin hormones that prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucus to inhibit sperm penetration.The normal range of COCs dosage is 20 to 35 micrograms of estrogen and 0.1 to 3 milligrams of progestin per pill.
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