An explosive new Danish report states that over 1,200
abortions annually could be avoided if women on the pill quit
smoking.
New research shows that female contraceptive pills function
far worse among female smokers than non-smokers, with head of
the research project, Dr. Erling E. Andreasen from Kolding
Hospital, stating at a world congress for medicine in
Washington that female smokers run a far greater risk of
unwanted pregnancies than non-smokers.
Referring to the results of information collected from 800
women requesting voluntary abortions, Andreasen stated that
"Many of the participants in our survey had taken their
contraception pills correctly, but became pregnant anyway.
Further research showed that a great majority of those who
became pregnant were smokers."
According to Andreasen the nicotine in tobacco breaks down
the pills’ hormone content, oestrogen, thereby reducing their
effectiveness. He was backed by another top specialist, Dr.
Jytte Jensen from Glostrup Municipal hospital, an author of a
thesis on the subject. "There is no doubt that smoking
negates the effect of hormones. It comes as no surprise to me
that contraceptive pills have a diminished effect on
smokers."
New research shows that female contraceptive pills function
far worse among female smokers than non-smokers, with head of
the research project, Dr. Erling E. Andreasen from Kolding
Hospital, stating at a world congress for medicine in
Washington that female smokers run a far greater risk of
unwanted pregnancies than non-smokers.
Source: Copenhagen Post
Sept. 26, 2000
by Howard R. Knowles
