Dear angEliClOVe28,

Smoking while on the patch does not make the patch less effective against pregnancy, but it can have serious health risks, including increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Women who are on the patch, the ring, or combined-hormone birth control pills should not smoke cigarettes.

The older the woman is and the more she smokes, the greater the danger. The risk of death is much higher for women 35 and older who smoke and use combined-hormone methods than it is for nonsmokers.

Smoking while on the patch, pill, or ring is especially dangerous if a woman has diabetes, high blood pressure, or elevated cholesterol, because these conditions further increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

For more information, check out Smoking or — The Pill, The Patch, The Ring.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.