Contraceptives: contraindications to combined pills: practice question

A Pharmacology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pharmacology · Contraceptives: contraindications to combined pills

Sample item

Which of these women should not be prescribed a combined oral contraceptive pill?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. A 28-year-old with migraine with aura

Migraine with aura carries an increased risk of ischaemic stroke which oestrogen further raises, so combined pills are contraindicated. Other contraindications include smoking over 35, venous thromboembolism history, and breast cancer. Acne, dysmenorrhoea and PCOS are indications.

Option by option

  • A. A 25-year-old with mild acne

    Acne can improve with combined pills.

  • B. A 27-year-old with polycystic ovary syndrome

    PCOS is an accepted indication.

  • C. A 30-year-old with dysmenorrhoea

    Dysmenorrhoea is an indication.

  • D. A 28-year-old with migraine with aura (correct)

    Correct. Migraine with aura is a contraindication.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is D, A 28-year-old with migraine with aura. Migraine with aura carries an increased risk of ischaemic stroke which oestrogen further raises, so combined pills are contraindicated.

Why is "A 25-year-old with mild acne" not the answer?

Acne can improve with combined pills.

Why is "A 27-year-old with polycystic ovary syndrome" not the answer?

PCOS is an accepted indication.

Why is "A 30-year-old with dysmenorrhoea" not the answer?

Dysmenorrhoea is an indication.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Contraceptives: contraindications to combined pills in Pharmacology. Other contraindications include smoking over 35, venous thromboembolism history, and breast cancer. Acne, dysmenorrhoea and PCOS are indications.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Contraceptives: contraindications to combined pills?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.