Smokers over age 35 continue to receive oral contraceptives: Survey of patients in a family practice residency practice

Abstract

Objective - To assess the frequency with which women over age 35 report both current oral contraceptive use and current cigarette smoking. Design - Cross-sectional survey of women in a single practice setting. Setting - Primary care teaching practice in a mid-sized US city. Patients - 142 women aged 35-55 who had not reached menopause and had not had hysterectomy. Main outcome measures - Smoking status in current oral contraceptive users. Results - 19 women (13%) were current oral contraceptive users and 46 (32%) were current smokers. Four of the oral contraceptive users (21%) reported current smoking. Conclusions - Despite reported cardiovascular risk, women who smoke continue to receive prescriptions for oral contraceptives. Physicians should redouble efforts to record smoking status and offer smoking cessation treatment to women over age 35 who smoke and wish to take oral contraceptives.