The nurse is assessing a 27-year-old patient who came in to the clinic for severe dysmenorrhea. After being assessed by the physician, the patient was started on hormonal therapy. The most suitable type of HT for this patient is:
Explanation
Answer: B - The most suitable type of hormonal therapy for relief of dysmenorrhea is a progestin-containing drug like Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate). Estrogen-only drugs are avoided in this patient’s case because they could alter her hormonal levels, resulting in breakthrough bleeding, amenorrhea, and worsening dysmenorrhea. The nurse should inform the patient about adverse effects of this drug such as irregular vaginal bleeding during the first year of use, gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea and weight gain) that can be relieved by taking the drug with food, and CNS changes (e.g., drowsiness, mental depression, and insomnia).
