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Recommendations for Contraceptive Use

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CBS (Community Based Services) Checklists

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Checklist for Clients Who Want to Initiate Combined Oral Contraceptives (COCs) in Community-Based Services (CBS)

     
Please ask the client all of these questions: Check the correct box:
1. Is your period late and do you think you could be pregnant now? Yes No
2.  Are you currently breastfeeding a baby under 6 months of age? Yes No
3. Do you smoke cigarettes AND are you over 35 years of age? Yes No
4. Do you have frequent and very severe headaches that cause you problems; for example, blurred vision or temporary loss of vision, which you get during the headache? Yes No
5. Do you have high blood pressure? Yes No
6. Have you ever had a stroke, blood clot in your legs or lungs, or a heart attack? Yes No
7. Do you have diabetes (sugar in your blood)? Yes No
8.  Do you have or have you had breast cancer? Yes No
9. Do you have a serious liver disease or jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)? Yes No
10. Do you regularly take any pills for tuberculosis (TB), fungal infections or seizures (fits)? Yes No
If the client answers YES to any of the above questions, refer her to the clinic/physician, and give her condoms and/or spermicide to use in the meantime. If the client answers NO to all the above questions, continue with the questions below.
11. Do you have bleeding between menstrual periods which is unusual for you, or bleeding after intercourse (sex)? Yes No
(If the client answers YES, she can use COCs, but refer her to the clinic/physician for further evaluation of bleeding. Continue with question 12.
If the client answers NO to all the questions, she can use COCs, but to find out when she can start, ask:
12. How many days ago did you start your last menstrual period?   _________

# days

If the client began her last menstrual period within the past 7 days, she may begin COCs now.
If the client began her last menstrual period more than 7 days ago, and if:
  • she has been using an effective method of contraception (including abstinence), give her COCs, instruct her to begin taking them now, and instruct her that she must use condoms and/or spermicides or abstinence for the next 7 days. Give her condoms and/or spermicides.
  • she has not been using an effective method of contraception (including abstinence), give her the COCs but instruct her to start using them on the first day or during the first 7 days of her next menstrual period. Give her condoms and/or spermicide to use in the meantime.

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Any part of Recommendations for Updating Selected Practices in Contraceptive Use may be reproduced or adapted to meet local needs without prior permission from the TG/CWG Secretariat, provided the TG/CWG is acknowledged and the material is made available free of charge or at cost.


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