Oral contraceptive pill contains?

DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Pharmacology

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The most common oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are combined formulations that contain synthetic versions of both estrogen and progesterone (progestin).
These are known as Combined Oral Contraceptives (COCs) or 'the pill'.
The combination of both hormones provides a multi-faceted mechanism to prevent pregnancy, including inhibiting ovulation, thickening cervical mucus, and altering the uterine lining.
This makes it the most comprehensive and accurate answer to the general question about the contents of an oral contraceptive pill.

Option A: Estrogen-only therapy is not used for contraception. Unopposed estrogen (without progesterone) increases the risk of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer.
Option B: Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone, hydrocortisone) are a completely different class of steroid hormones used for their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. They have no role in contraception.
Option C: While a valid type of oral contraceptive exists that contains only progesterone (the 'mini-pill' or Progestin-Only Pill), it is a specific formulation. The question asks generally what an oral contraceptive pill contains, and the most common type contains both hormones.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Composition and types of oral contraceptive pills as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A key nursing responsibility is patient assessment and education regarding OCPs. Nurses must screen for contraindications to estrogen, such as a history of blood clots (VTE), stroke, heart attack, certain cancers, uncontrolled hypertension, and smoking (especially in women over 35).
Patient education should cover correct usage (taking the pill at the same time each day), what to do if a pill is missed, common side effects, and the fact that OCPs do not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
What if the patient is 6 weeks postpartum and exclusively breastfeeding? The progestin-only pill (POP) would be the recommended oral contraceptive. Estrogen in combined pills can decrease milk supply, whereas progestin-only methods are considered safe during lactation.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the question as a factual recall question about the composition of a common medication.
Recall the different types of hormonal contraceptives.
Recognize that 'oral contraceptive pill' as a general term most often refers to the most common formulation, which is the combined pill.
Evaluate the options. While 'Only progesterone' describes a real product (the mini-pill), 'Both progesterone and estrogen' describes the standard, most widely used product.
Select the option that represents the most common and comprehensive answer for the general term used in the question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 2 pp. 236-238, 245-247

E6 Gynecology Williams p. 123-153