Safety of intrauterine contraceptive device (copper T 200 B) in women with cardiac disease

Safety of contraceptive use among women with congenital heart disease: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Women with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk of pregnancy complications and need information on safe, effective contraceptive methods to avoid unintended pregnancy. This systematic review examines evidence regarding safety of contraceptive use among women with CHD.

METHODS

The PubMed database was searched for any peer-reviewed articles published through April 2018 that included safety outcomes associated with reversible contraceptive methods among women with CHD.

RESULTS

Five articles met inclusion criteria: three studies comparing contraceptive users to nonusers and two noncomparative studies. Sample sizes ranged from 65 to 505 women with CHD. Two studies found a higher percent of thromboembolic complications among women with Fontan palliation or transposition of the great arteries using oral contraceptives. One study, among women with Fontan palliation, found no increased risk of thromboembolic complications between contraceptive users (not separated by type) and nonusers. Two studies found no endocarditis among intrauterine device users.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a paucity of data regarding the safety of contraceptive methods among women with CHD. Limited evidence suggests an increased incidence of thromboembolic complications with use of oral contraceptives. Further studies are needed to evaluate contraceptive safety and quantify risk in this growing population. There is also limited data regarding the safety of contraceptive methods among women with CHD. Further information is needed to assist practitioners counseling women with CHD on safety of contraceptive methods.

Endocarditis following IUD insertion in a patient with tetralogy of Fallot

The role of antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of infective endocarditis is unknown. Endocarditis prophylaxis is recommended for certain high-risk individuals prior to dental procedures. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of a patient with complex congenital heart disease developing endocarditis in the period immediately following otherwise uncomplicated intrauterine device insertion.

[Intrauterine contraception: CNGOF Contraception Guidelines]

OBJECTIVE

To provide national clinical guidelines focusing on intrauterine contraception.

METHODS

A systematic review of available literature was performed using Pubmed and Cochrane libraries. American, British and Canadian guidelines were considered as well.

RESULTS

Intrauterine contraception (IUC) displays a wide panel of indications, including adolescents, nulliparous, patients living with HIV before AIDS (Grade B) and women with history of ectopic pregnancy (Grade C). Cervical cancer screening should not be modified in women with IUC (Grade B). Bimanual examination and cervix inspection are mandatory before device insertion (Grade B). Patients should not systematically undergo screening for sexually transmitted infections (STI) before device insertion (Grade B). Screening for STI should be preferably done before insertion but it can be performed at the time of device insertion in asymptomatic women (Grade B). Routine antibiotic prophylaxis and premedication are not recommended before insertion (Grade A). A follow-up visit may be offered several weeks after insertion (Professional consensus). Routine pelvic ultrasound examination in not recommended after device insertion (Grade B). In patients with IUC, unscheduled bleeding, when persistent or associated with pelvic pain, requires further investigation to rule out complication (Professional agreement). Suspected uterine perforation warrants radiological workup to locate the device (Professional consensus). Laparoscopic approach should be preferred for elective removal of intrauterine device from abdominal cavity (Professional consensus). In case of accidental pregnancy with intrauterine device in situ, ectopic pregnancy should be excluded (Grade B). In case of viable and desired intrauterine pregnancy, intrauterine device removal is recommended if the strings are reachable (Grade C). Detection of Actinomyces-like organisms on pap smear in asymptomatic patients with intrauterine contraception does not require further intervention (Grade B). Immediate removal of intrauterine device is not recommended in case of STI or pelvic inflammatory disease (Grade B). Device removal should be considered in the absence of clinical improvement after 48 to 72 hours of appropriate treatment (Grade B).

CONCLUSION

Intrauterine contraception is a long-acting and reversible contraception method displaying great efficacy and high continuation rate. In contrast, complication rate is low. It should thus be offered to both nulliparous and multiparous women.

A Web-Based Decision Tool to Improve Contraceptive Counseling for Women With Chronic Medical Conditions: Protocol For a Mixed Methods Implementation Study

BACKGROUND

Women with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, have a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications compared with women without medical conditions and should be offered contraception if desired. Although evidence based guidelines for contraceptive selection in the presence of medical conditions are available via the United States Medical Eligibility Criteria (US MEC), these guidelines are underutilized. Research also supports the use of decision tools to promote shared decision making between patients and providers during contraceptive counseling.

OBJECTIVE

The overall goal of the MiHealth, MiChoice project is to design and implement a theory-driven, Web-based tool that incorporates the US MEC (provider-level intervention) within the vehicle of a contraceptive decision tool for women with chronic medical conditions (patient-level intervention) in community-based primary care settings (practice-level intervention). This will be a 3-phase study that includes a predesign phase, a design phase, and a testing phase in a randomized controlled trial. This study protocol describes phase 1 and aim 1, which is to determine patient-, provider-, and practice-level factors that are relevant to the design and implementation of the contraceptive decision tool.

METHODS

This is a mixed methods implementation study. To customize the delivery of the US MEC in the decision tool, we selected high-priority constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the Theoretical Domains Framework to drive data collection and analysis at the practice and provider level, respectively. A conceptual model that incorporates constructs from the transtheoretical model and the health beliefs model undergirds patient-level data collection and analysis and will inform customization of the decision tool for this population. We will recruit 6 community-based primary care practices and conduct quantitative surveys and semistructured qualitative interviews with women who have chronic medical conditions, their primary care providers (PCPs), and clinic staff, as well as field observations of practice activities. Quantitative survey data will be summarized with simple descriptive statistics and relationships between participant characteristics and contraceptive recommendations (for PCPs), and current contraceptive use (for patients) will be examined using Fisher exact test. We will conduct thematic analysis of qualitative data from interviews and field observations. The integration of data will occur by comparing, contrasting, and synthesizing qualitative and quantitative findings to inform the future development and implementation of the intervention.

RESULTS

We are currently enrolling practices and anticipate study completion in 15 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This protocol describes the first phase of a multiphase mixed methods study to develop and implement a Web-based decision tool that is customized to meet the needs of women with chronic medical conditions in primary care settings. Study findings will promote contraceptive counseling via shared decision making and reflect evidence-based guidelines for contraceptive selection.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03153644; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03153644 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6yUkA5lK8).

Long acting reversible contraception in adolescents with cardiovascular conditions

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this case series was to evaluate the efficacy and complication rate with use of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods in adolescents with cardiovascular conditions.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

We performed a retrospective chart review of adolescents age 22 or younger with congenital cardiac anomalies or major cardiovascular conditions who had a LARC device placed at Seattle Children's Hospital or University of Washington Medical Center between January 1, 2007 and March 1, 2012.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Patient characteristics, medical conditions, indications, and complications including perforation, pregnancy, expulsion, and pelvic infection were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty adolescents with congenital cardiac anomalies or other cardiovascular conditions had a LARC device inserted during the study period. Mean age at placement was 17.7 years (range 12-22). Twelve patients (40%) had reported a previous pregnancy and 12 (40%) had never been sexually active at time of placement. Common primary and secondary indications were desired contraception (22 patients, 73%), desired menstrual suppression (15 subjects, 50%) and treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (8 subjects, 27%). Twenty-nine patients had a structural cardiac anomaly. There were 27 levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices (IUD), 1 copper IUD, and 3 etonogestrel implants placed. There were 2 confirmed IUD expulsions and 1 removal due to persistent irregular bleeding and cramping. There were no cases of pelvic inflammatory disease or pregnancies with LARC methods in place. Twenty-seven (90%) patients were continuing LARC at last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In this small case series of adolescents with cardiovascular conditions, LARC devices were effective at pregnancy prevention without serious complications.

Magnetic field interactions of copper-containing intrauterine devices in 3.0-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging: in vivo study

Objective

An ex vivo study found a copper-containing intrauterine device (IUD) to be safe for women undergoing an MRI examination at a 3.0-T field. No significant artifacts caused by the metallic implant were detected. However, there are still no in vivo data about these concerns. The aim of this study was to evaluate 3.0-T magnetic field interactions of copper-containing IUDs in vivo.

Materials and Methods

Magnetic field interactions and potential adverse events were evaluated in 33 women using a questionnaire-based telephone survey. Two experienced radiologists performed artifact evaluation on MR images of the pelvis.

Results

Eighteen patients were eligible for the survey. One patient reported a dislocation of the IUD after the MR examination. All other patients had no signs of field interactions. No IUD-related artifacts were found.

Conclusion

MRI at 3.0-T is possible for women with copper-containing IUDs. However, consulting a gynecologist to check the correct position of the IUD and exclude complications after an MR examination is highly recommended. High-quality clinical imaging of the female pelvis can be performed without a loss in image quality.

United States medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use 2010: a review of changes

In the late 1990s, the World Health Organization (WHO) created the Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (MEC), which provide evidence-based recommendations for safe and effective contraception in women with medical problems. The WHO MEC incorporate the best available evidence, are periodically updated, and are designed to be modified for specific populations. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published US MEC in 2010. Changes to WHO guidelines for use in the US population include the following areas: breastfeeding, intrauterine device use, valvular heart disease, ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids, and venous thromboembolism. Medical conditions not covered by WHO recommendations but added to the US MEC include contraceptive guidance for women with inflammatory bowel disease, history of bariatric surgery, rheumatoid arthritis, endometrial hyperplasia, history of peripartum cardiomyopathy, and history of solid organ transplant. This article reviews the changes and additions to WHO MEC found in the US MEC.