When teaching a client about estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives, what adverse effects should she be advised to report?

When discussing estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives, it is crucial to advise clients to be vigilant about specific adverse effects, particularly symptoms that may indicate serious complications. Chest pain is significant in this context because it may be a sign of a cardiovascular event such as a blood clot, stroke, or heart attack, which are serious risks associated with the use of hormonal contraceptives.

Women using these contraceptives are at an increased risk for thromboembolic events, and chest pain could be an early warning sign of such complications. Therefore, prompt reporting of chest pain can lead to early intervention, potentially preventing severe outcomes.

The other options, such as weight loss, increased fatigue, and dry skin, are less critical in comparison. While they may affect a woman’s quality of life, they are not immediate threats to health that necessitate urgent medical attention as chest pain does.