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[Contraceptive use and smoking among Spanish women]
C Prada1, M C del Río, F J Alvarez
1Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to analyze the oral contraceptive use and smoking habits among Spanish women.
Design:
Descriptive observation study of a crossover design.
Setting:
General population, using to this purpose the 1993 National Household Health Survey.
Patients And Other Participants:
5229 Spanish women aged 16-42 years.
Measurements And Main Results:
The use of oral contraceptives, as well as patterns of smoking was assessed. 4.6% of the women of 16-42 years of age had used oral contraceptives in the last two weeks, from which 51.1% smoked in a daily basis. Furthermore, mean number of cigarettes/day and heavy smokers was higher among oral contraceptive users than in non users.
Conclusions:
Smoking habit and oral contraceptive use is frequent among Spanish women (this population a higher risk of certain side effects). Health professionals should be aware of smoking the women taking oral contraceptives.