Re: Birth COntrol Pills

Posted By hfhs.md.rcs on August 19, 1998 at 08:54:12:

In Reply to: Birth COntrol Pills posted by Shannon on August 18, 1998 at 20:02:57:






I've heard that taking combination birth control pills (that is, those containing both estrogens and progestins) can be bad for smokers under 40.  Is this true?  What could happen?
Dear Shannon:
After age 35 years, women who smoke cigarettes and use combined estrogen and progestin birth control pills have a marked increase in the likelihood of death from heart attack (myocardial infarction). Thus, the current standard is that women who are cigarette smokers should not use oral contraceptives after age 35 years.
This association has not been found with the progestin only oral contraceptive pill, with depo-progestin injections, or with progestin implants.
There is some weak evidence that the amount of estogen in the pill formula makes a difference and the introduction of "new, low estrogen pills" is being hyped as POSSIBILY safer: at this time there is inadequate evidence to support such marketing claims and the standard remains, you can smoke or you can take combination birth control pills after age 35 years, but you cannot do both.
Keywords: oral contraception, smoking
This information is provided for general eduction purposes only and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician.