Non-randomised trial, 1999
Do menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use affect how the body reacts to smoking?
Yes. Women using oral contraceptives had stronger cardiovascular reactions to smoking than those not using them, and these reactions varied by menstrual cycle phase. This may contribute to increased heart disease risk.
What they did
A nonrandomized study with 12 women using oral contraceptives and 12 not using them. Each woman was tested during two menstrual phases (early and late cycle). In each session, they sham-smoked and then smoked two cigarettes using a measured smoke delivery system.
What they found
Women using oral contraceptives had larger smoking-induced increases in heart rate compared with nonusers. Cardiovascular changes varied with both menstrual cycle phase and oral contraceptive use. Menstrual phase did not affect smoking withdrawal symptoms, premenstrual symptoms, or mood before smoking.
What it means for you
Oral contraceptive use may increase cardiovascular risk during smoking. The small sample size and nonrandomized design limit how certain we can be about the strength of this effect. The study does not specify the exact differences in cardiovascular response.
12
Oral contraceptive users
12
Nonusers
About the study
- Original title
- Cardiovascular and mood responses to quantified doses of cigarette smoke in oral contraceptive users and nonusers
- Authors
- Masson CL, Gilbert DG
- Journal
- Journal of behavioral medicine
- Year
- 1999
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- What was tested
- Smoking two cigarettes via quantified smoke delivery system versus sham smoking
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1023/a:1018793729594
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