Question

Difficulty: MediumMenstrual Cycle Abnormalities and Contraception

Evaluate the following patient profiles and match each with the most medically appropriate contraceptive method, adhering to the US Medical Eligibility Criteria (MEC) and specific patient preferences.

  • A 25-year-old female with a history of migraines with visual aura, seeking a highly effective, maintenance-free contraceptive that lasts for several years.Subdermal etonogestrel implant
  • A 39-year-old female who smokes one pack of cigarettes daily and explicitly requests a daily oral contraceptive medication.Progestin-only pill
  • A 28-year-old female with a confirmed diagnosis of Wilson disease who desires long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device
  • A 24-year-old female (BMI 34 kg/m²) presenting for emergency contraception 110 hours following unprotected sexual intercourse.Ulipristal acetate pill

Answer

Match the migraine with aura to the subdermal implant; the 39-year-old smoker to the progestin-only pill; the Wilson disease patient to the levonorgestrel IUD; and the delayed emergency contraception/high BMI patient to ulipristal acetate.
The correct matches align patient comorbidities and preferences perfectly with the CDC US Medical Eligibility Criteria (MEC). Migraine with aura and smoking in patients aged 35 or older are absolute contraindications to estrogen-containing products. Wilson disease uniquely contraindicates the copper IUD, and ulipristal acetate is the superior oral emergency contraceptive for patients presenting up to 120 hours post-coitus, particularly in the setting of obesity.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze each patient's age, medical comorbidities, and specific contraceptive preferences.
Identified contraindications: migraine with aura (no estrogen), smoking over age 35 (no estrogen), Wilson disease (no copper), and high BMI with delayed presentation for emergency contraception (reduced levonorgestrel efficacy).
Recognizing absolute contraindications (MEC 4) is the first step in safely prescribing contraceptives.
2
Map the remaining safe options to the patient's stated lifestyle preferences.
Patient 1 wants maintenance-free (implant); Patient 2 wants a daily pill (POP); Patient 3 wants LARC without copper (LNG-IUD); Patient 4 needs effective EC up to 120 hours (Ulipristal).
Patient preference directly drives adherence and continuation of the chosen contraceptive method.
3
Finalize the 1:1 matches between the clinical profiles and the provided contraceptive options.
All profiles successfully paired with a medically appropriate and preferred method.
Ensures all constraints of the matching structure are satisfied accurately.

Key Concept

Application of the US Medical Eligibility Criteria (MEC) for contraceptive use alongside patient-specific preferences and comorbidities.
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