A nurse in a prenatal clinic is examining the health record of a client who is 28 weeks pregnant.
The history includes one pregnancy terminated by elective abortion at 9 weeks, the birth of twins at 36 weeks, and a spontaneous abortion at 15 weeks.
According to the GTPAL system, how would you describe the client’s current status?

Choice A rationale

While follow-up testing is important for individuals diagnosed with chlamydia, retesting is typically recommended 3 months after treatment, not 6 months.

Choice B rationale

This is the correct statement. Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics, and a single dose of azithromycin is one of the recommended treatments.

Choice C rationale

This statement is incorrect. Even if a sexual partner of a person diagnosed with chlamydia has no symptoms, they still need to be tested and treated if necessary. Chlamydia can be asymptomatic, and untreated chlamydia can lead to serious health problems.

Choice D rationale

While abstaining from sexual relations until treatment is complete is recommended, it is not the only necessary step. The client’s sexual partners also need to be informed, tested, and treated if necessary.

Choice A rationale

While bile does play a role in digestion, it is not retained in the liver. Instead, it is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. When food enters the small intestine, the gallbladder releases bile to aid in the digestion of fats. However, this process is not directly related to heartburn during pregnancy.

Choice B rationale

During pregnancy, the body produces large amounts of the hormones progesterone and relaxin. These hormones tend to relax smooth muscle tissues throughout the body, including those in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. As a result, food sometimes moves more slowly through the system, resulting in indigestion issues of all kinds, from that bloated, gassy feeling to heartburn. This is the correct answer because increased progesterone production does indeed cause decreased motility of smooth muscle, which can lead to heartburn.

Choice C rationale

While estrogen levels do increase during pregnancy, they do not directly cause an increase in the secretion of hydrochloric acid. Instead, the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter due to pregnancy hormones can allow stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus, causing heartburn.

Choice D rationale

While it is true that the growing uterus can displace the stomach, especially in later stages of pregnancy, this is not the primary cause of heartburn. Heartburn is primarily caused by the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus.