Is it safe to smoke when taking birth control pills?
Smoking increases the risk of many illnesses including heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer. Smoking as few as four cigarettes a day makes you seven times more likely to develop heart disease. Any birth control pill that contains estrogen has a small increased risk of blood clots (venous thromboembolism). Young women rarely have heart attacks, so the risk of complications is very small. However, in women over the age of 35 who smoke, the risk of a cardiovascular event (stroke or heart attack) increases significantly if they are also taking the birth control pill, so doctors usually advise smokers over 35 not to take the birth control pill. If you smoke, talk to your health care provider about your best birth control options, or better yet talk to your doctor about ways to quit smoking!
