Prescribing Oral Contraceptives for Women Older Than 35 Years of Age

7 January 2003 | Volume 138 Issue 1 | Pages 54-64

This paper addresses the use of combined oral contraceptives in women older than 35 years of age, including the potential risks and benefits, pretreatment assessment, common side effects and their management, appropriate follow-up, and diagnosis of menopause. The case-based discussion also focuses on issues that pertain to women who smoke, have hypertension, or have dyslipidemia.

Author and Article Information

From University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin; and Virginia Mason Medical Center, Lynwood, Washington.

Requests for Single Reprints: Christine Seibert, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, UW Health East Clinic, 5249 East Terrace Drive, Madison, WI 53718; e-mail, cseibert{at}facstaff.wisc.edu.

Current Author Addresses: Dr. Seibert: Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, UW Health East Clinic, 5249 East Terrace Drive, Madison, WI 53718.

Drs. Barbouche and Fagan: Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, UW Health West Clinic, 451 Junction Road, Madison, WI 53717.

Dr. Myint: Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, 19116 33rd Avenue West, Lynwood, WA 98036.

Dr. Wetterneck: Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, J5/214 Clinical Sciences Center, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792.

Dr. Wittemyer: Departments of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Center for Women's Health L466, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239.