A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who is taking medroxyprogesterone injections for contraception.

Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

The correct answer is choice B.The client should wear scrotal support for at least 48 hours after the procedure to decrease pain and swelling, and protect the wound.

Some possible explanations for the other choices are:

• Choice A is wrong because the client should avoid sexual activity for at least 1 week, not 4 weeks, after the procedure.The client will not be sterile right away and will need to use another form of birth control until the sperm count is zero.
• Choice C is wrong because the client should apply ice packs to the scrotum for at least 2 days, not 72 hours, after the procedure.Ice helps prevent tissue damage and decrease swelling and pain.
• Choice D is wrong because the client should not take aspirin for pain relief after the procedure, as it can increase the risk of bleeding.The client can take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen instead.

The correct answer is choice B. Increased serum potassium level.Oral contraceptives can affect the levels of various electrolytes in the blood, such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.According to one study, oral contraceptives can increase the levels of serum copper, iron, calcium and cadmium, and decrease the levels of serum zinc, selenium, phosphorus and magnesium.

Therefore, a high serum potassium level can indicate an adverse effect of oral contraceptives on this client.

Choice A is wrong because oral contraceptives do not decrease serum glucose level.In fact, they can increase the plasma glucose level and insulin response, which can impair glucose tolerance and increase the risk of diabetes.

Choice C is wrong because oral contraceptives do not decrease serum triglyceride level.On the contrary, they can increase the fasting triglyceride level by 13 to 75 percent, which can elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Choice D is wrong because oral contraceptives do not increase serum protein level.They can increase the levels of some apolipoproteins, such as A-I, A-II and B, but these are not the same as total protein.