
Smoking and the pill
My doctor has put me on MICROGYNON as a first pill: I would like to know what the hormone dosage is for this brand... Also, will the fact that I smoke 5 or 6 cigarettes a day cause any problems? This month, my period was a strange colour, kind of brownish like you get at the end of your period - is this normal? I haven't started taking it yet. Thanks very much.
You have probably been put on low strength Microgynon, which contains 20 micrograms of progesterone and ethinylestradiol, which prevents the egg from being released from the ovary and ripening. The side effects are the same as for other contraceptive pills, just read the leaflet in the packet for more information. Smoking is very bad for your health whoever you are, but smoking whilst on the pill makes you seven times more likely to suffer from varicose veins, so it's up to you! The colour of menstrual blood depends on flow, and medically speaking, means nothing.
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