Question

Which one of the following is NOT an absolute contraindication for oral contraceptive pills?

• A. Nursing mothers
• B. Cancer of breast
• C. Cardiac abnormalities
• D. History of thromboembolism

Hint:

Separate conditions that fully ban the pill from ones that only need a cautious alternative.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

This question is about telling apart the conditions where oral contraceptive pills are completely banned from the one condition where they are just handled with caution.

1. Nursing mothers: Estrogen in combined pills can lower milk output and cross into breast milk in small amounts, so doctors prefer progesterone only pills or other methods during breastfeeding. This is a caution, not a full ban, which is why this is the odd one out.
2. Cancer of breast: Many breast cancers grow faster under hormone exposure, so giving estrogen and progesterone here can actively worsen the disease. This is a firm, absolute ban.
3. Cardiac abnormalities: Serious heart conditions combined with the clot promoting effect of the pill can push the heart or circulation past what it can safely handle, making this an absolute ban as well.
4. History of thromboembolism: Combined pills already raise clotting risk in a healthy person, so someone who has already had a clot faces a much higher danger of a repeat event, making this an absolute ban too.

Three of the four options describe conditions where the pill can cause direct, serious harm and must never be given. Only breastfeeding is a situation managed by choosing a different pill or method, not by a hard ban.

So nursing mothers are the one option that is not an absolute contraindication for oral contraceptive pills.