There are many different ways to smoke, including vaping and nicotine or marijuana cigarettes.
Research indicates that smoking can have severe health implications.
It also increases the risk of cardiovascular problems and premature death.
Johner Images / Getty Images
Healthcare professionals advise against smoking because of the toll it can take on the human body.
This article will discuss what it’s crucial that you know about smoking and birth control.
Smoking and Birth Control
Few studies have evaluated the relationship between smoking and birth control.
Thecombination birth control pillcontains estrogen and progestin.
Increased estrogen levels can cause changes to a persons blood, which heightens their risk of gettingblood clots.
The risk ofstrokeorheart attackcan increase with age and the use ofbirth controlpills due to the impacts of smoking.
Thepatch,pill, and ring (NuvaRing) are not recommended for individuals who smoke.
Vaping vs. Cigarettes
Research is lacking on smoking and the use of birth control in general.
Because vaping is a newer method of smoking, there is insufficient research to draw conclusions.
However, the common ingredient between cigarettes and vapes is nicotine.
Still, further research will lead to a better understanding.
Nicotine
Nicotine is harmful to the heart.It can lead to increases in blood pressure and heart rate.
The combination of these symptoms may result in a heart attack, which can be fatal.
Smoking can also cause blood to thicken, which increases the risk of stroke or blood clots.
You may be able to use a progestin-only pill instead.
Though it cannot cancel out birth control, it can lead to other dangerous health problems.
Further research needs to be conducted in this area.
Research indicates that IUDs, as a non-estrogen method of contraception, may be safer for people who smoke.
Shufelt CL, Bairey Merz CN.Contraceptive hormone use and cardiovascular disease.J Am Coll Cardiol.
2019;21(5):592-601. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntx258
Planned Parenthood.How safe is the birth control pill?
Benowitz NL, Burbank AD.Cardiovascular toxicity of nicotine: Implications for electronic cigarette use.Trends Cardiovasc Med.
2016;26(6):515-523. doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2016.03.001
American Heart Association.How smoking and nicotine damage your body.
2016;34(8):1507-1512. doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000000990
