1. Although fertility is reduced as a woman enters perimenopause, pregnancy is still possible until she has gone how long without a period?
(a) 3 months
(b) 6 months
(c) 1 year
(d) 2 years

2. Which of the following is not an effective birth control option for perimenopausal women?
(a) Oral hormone contraceptives (combined estrogen-progestin or progestin-alone pills)
(b) Nonoral hormone contraceptives (injection, skin patch, or vaginal ring)
(c) Barrier methods (diaphragm, cervical cap, spermicides, and male and female condoms)
(d) Natural family planning (rhythm or periodic abstinence)

3. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are spread most easily from:
(a) man to woman
(b) woman to man
(c) woman to woman
(d) There is equal chance of infection from all of the above

4. Which safer sex guidelines apply to women who have had a hysterectomy and/or ovaries removed?
(a) Avoid transferring any body fluids (including menstrual blood, vaginal fluids, and ejaculate) into the body through the vagina, the mouth, or any cuts on the skin.
(b) Choose partners selectively.
(c) Keep medically fit and have a regular physical exam and other tests to identify STIs if you are at risk.
(d) All of the above

5. Routine screening for HIV/AIDS is recommended for which category of women?
(a) Women seeking treatment for STIs
(b) Past or present intravenous drug users
(c) Women born or living in an area with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS infection
(d) All of the above

Answers:
1. (c) Pregnancy is still possible until a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a period.
2. (d) Natural family planning (rhythm or periodic abstinence) is not a reliable method for perimenopausal women, as the timing of “safe days” is unpredictable due to irregular periods.
3. (a) STIs are more easily transmitted man to woman. If exposed, women are twice as likely as men to contract gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and HIV/AIDS. Lesbian women tend to have fewer STIs than heterosexual women, but STIs can still be transmitted woman to woman. Women are also less likely to exhibit symptoms of these infections until serious problems develop, resulting in a delay in diagnosis and treatment.
4. (d) All of the above safer sex guidelines apply to women who have had a hysterectomy and/or removal of the ovaries.
5. (d) All of the above. The number of HIV/AIDS cases among people over age 50 is growing every year because people from this age group are less informed about HIV/AIDS than their younger counterparts. They do not always know how it spreads or the importance of using condoms, not sharing needles, getting tested, and talking about risks with their healthcare provider. Healthcare workers and educators often do not talk with middle-aged women about HIV/AIDS prevention. Plus, these women are less likely to talk about their sex lives or drug use with healthcare providers.