Should I be taking birth control pills, if I smoke cigarettes?


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Birth control pills can cause heart attack, stroke and blood clots in anyone taking them. However, your risk of heart disease increases when you smoke because smoking leads to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and inhibits blood flow. The risk for heart disease ALSO increases as you age. So, the recommendation for all birth control pills, the patch or the ring is that it NOT be prescribed for women over age 35 who smoke because of this COMBINED risk. However, regardless of age, you should not smoke while taking the pill because of these risks. Always talk to your healthcare provider so he/she can make sure you don't have any other health conditions that would put you at increased risk for these side effects.
you should discuss it with your ob/gyn be honest with him/her and let them know that you smoke.


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