ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES & SMOKING:

A WARNING

The incidence of fatal and non-fatal blood clots which include heart attacks, strokes and lung clots has been shown to be significantly increased in women who use the birth control pill and also smoke.

 The risk of abnormal clotting is also increase with increase estrogen content of the pills, high blood pressure, high blood fats, obesity, diabetes, duration of pill use (over 5 years) and increasing age (especially after age 40).

 Because of increase risk to your health and perhaps life, smoking is strongly discouraged in women who elect to use the oral contraceptive pill.

 For more detail information on estrogen related problems, see:  Food and drug Administration (FDA) patient package insert for birth control pills.  If you do not have one, ask the Student Health Services staff for a copy.