Recommendations arising out of the findings by the RCGP oral contraception sutdy on the mortality risks of oral contraceptive users. From the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Obstetricians nad Gynaecologists
Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 27(184): 700
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-8797 PMID: 616860 Document Number: 510649
From observations that oral contraceptive users have an increased risk of 1/5000/year of dying from cardiovascular disease, with the risk concentrated in women over 35 years of age especially among those who smoke cigarettes and have used oral contraceptives continuously for 5 years or more, it is recommended that 1) women under 30 who use oral contraceptives stop smoking; 2) women aged 30-35 who smoke and have used oral contraceptives continually for 5 years or more reconsider their decision and not continue oral contraceptives unless they stop smoking; and 3) women 35 or over reconsider their method of contraception, especially those who smoke and/or have used oral contraceptives for 5 years of more. Oral contraceptives should not be discontinued, however, until an alternate method of contraception is found which is acceptable. No determination is possible at this time as to whether low doses of estrogen are advantageous.