Women's Health
AKT High-Yield Breakdown
Women's health is one of the most consistently tested areas of the AKT. Questions span contraception prescribing safety, menstrual disorders, menopause and HRT, pregnancy in primary care, gynaecological cancer referral, and vulvovaginal conditions. The exam rewards candidates who know UK-specific guidance — particularly the UK Medical Eligibility Criteria (UKMEC), NICE NG88 (heavy menstrual bleeding), NICE NG23 (menopause), and NICE NG12 (cancer referral thresholds).
What You'll Learn
Master UKMEC contraception eligibility (including COCP contraindications and emergency contraception), heavy menstrual bleeding management, menopause and HRT risks and benefits, antenatal red flags, ectopic pregnancy, gynaecological cancer 2WW referral criteria, and vulvovaginal conditions including BV, candidiasis, and atrophic vaginitis.
Practise Women's Health MCQs
From UKMEC contraception eligibility and menopause to gynaecological cancer referral thresholds and pregnancy red flags — tackle focused MCQs across the full Women's Health curriculum.
Contraception — UKMEC & Prescribing
Contraception questions nearly always test prescribing safety rather than mechanisms. The UK Medical Eligibility Criteria (UKMEC) classifies conditions into four categories: 1 (no restriction), 2 (advantages outweigh risks), 3 (risks usually outweigh advantages, usually avoid), and 4 (unacceptable health risk, do not use).
Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill (COCP)
- UKMEC 4 — do not use: current breast cancer, migraine with aura at any age, current or history of DVT or PE, stroke or ischaemic heart disease history, BP ≥160/100 mmHg, smoker aged ≥35 with ≥15 cigarettes per day, decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular adenoma, breastfeeding under 6 weeks postpartum
- UKMEC 3 — usually avoid: smoker aged ≥35 with fewer than 15 cigarettes per day, BMI ≥35 kg/m², personal or first-degree family history of VTE, BP 140–159 / 90–99 mmHg, prolonged immobility
- COCP and VTE: absolute risk is low (3–9 per 10,000 woman-years vs 2 per 10,000 without); third-generation progestogens (desogestrel, gestodene) carry slightly higher VTE risk than levonorgestrel-containing pills
- Missed pill rule for standard 30 mcg COCP: if 1 pill missed (more than 24 hours late) — take the missed pill immediately, continue the rest of the pack, no extra precautions needed; if 2 or more consecutive pills missed — take the most recent missed pill, continue the rest of the pack, use condoms for 7 days; if fewer than 7 active pills remain in the pack after the missed pills, skip the pill-free interval and start the next pack
The highest-yield UKMEC question is migraine with aura: this is an absolute contraindication (UKMEC 4) to the COCP at any age and with any smoking status, because of significantly increased stroke risk. Migraine without aura is UKMEC 2.
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