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Contraception - Management
How does smoking influence choice?

  • Women who are < 35 years of age and are currently smoking, or are >= 35 years of age and stopped smoking >= 12 months ago
    • Methods that can be used without restriction: progestogen-only pill, progestogen-only injectables and implants, copper intrauterine devices (IUDs), the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (IUS), barrier methods, natural family planning, and sterilization.
    • Methods that can generally be used (advantages generally outweigh the risks): combined oral contraceptives (COCs), combined contraceptive patch, and combined contraceptive vaginal ring.
    • There are no methods that should not be used (because of unacceptable risk).
  • Women >= 35 years who smoke < 15 cigarettes daily, or have stopped smoking in the past 12 months
    • Methods that can be used without restriction: progestogen-only pill, progestogen-only injectables and implants, copper IUDs, the levonorgestrel-releasing IUS, barrier methods, natural family planning, and sterilization.
    • Methods that are not usually recommended (risks usually outweigh the advantages): COCs, combined contraceptive patch, and combined contraceptive vaginal ring.
  • Women >= 35 years who smoke >= 15 cigarettes daily
    • Methods that can be used without restriction: progestogen-only pill, progestogen-only injectables and implants, copper IUDs, the levonorgestrel-releasing IUS, barrier methods, natural family planning, and sterilization.
    • Methods that should not be used (because of unacceptable risk): COCs, combined contraceptive patch, and combined contraceptive vaginal ring.

In depth

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