for ; Fri, 14 Mar 1997 11:03:44 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1997 11:09:20 -0500 To: ppn@csf.colorado.edu From: Richard Cincotta Subject: Contraceptive Pearl - Age and Oral Contraceptive use >>Q: Are some women too old or too young to be eligible to receive >>oral contraceptives? >> >>A: Combined oral contraceptives may be used at any age at which >>the woman is at risk of pregnancy (e.g. past menarche and through >>menopause.) However, if older women such as women over 40 have >>known cardiovascular risk factors (such as smoking, diabetes, >>high blood pressure) combined oral contraceptives are generally >>not recommended. Women 35 and over who also smoke cigarettes >>should generally not use the pill. >> >>Reference: Improving access to quality care in family planning: >>Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use. WHO, Geneva, >>1996. >> >>from ************************************************* Richard P. Cincotta, Ph.D. Population Action International 1120 19th St., NW Suite 550 Washington, DC 20036 USA (202)659-1833 x168 (202)293-1795 (fax) cincotta@popact.org See "Why Population Matters" on the Web: http://www.interaction.org/mb/pop.html See "Press release on saving U.S. programs in International Family Planning" http://www.interaction.org/pressrel/savefp.html *****************************************************