The nurse instructs a woman taking oral contraceptives to report which possible side effects? (Select all that apply.)
Explanation & Rationale
A. Abdominal pain: Severe abdominal pain can signal hepatic dysfunction, gallbladder disease, or vascular problems (e.g., hepatic vein thrombosis) associated with oral contraceptives and needs prompt evaluation. B. Speech disturbances: New speech changes can be a sign of stroke or transient ischemic attack -OCPs increase thrombotic risk in some patients, so neurological symptoms must be reported immediately. C. Headache: Sudden or severe headaches (or new, persistent headaches) may indicate hypertension, migraine with aura, or cerebrovascular events and should be reported. D. Weight gain: Not typically urgent to report. Weight change is a common side effect of hormonal contraceptives; it should be discussed during follow-up if bothersome, but it is not an immediate warning sign like the others. E. Eye or visual problems: Visual disturbances (blurry vision, visual loss) may indicate hypertensive crisis, retinal thrombosis, or cerebrovascular events and require immediate evaluation.