Who shouldn’t take the pill?

(“combined” means containing both estrogen and progesterone)

• Blood clots or history of blood clots
• History of stroke or heart attack
• Coronary artery disease
• Known or suspected breast cancer or cancer of uterus, cervix or vagina
• Unexplained vaginal bleeding
• Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin) during pregnancy or during previous use of the pill
• Liver tumor
• Known or suspected pregnancy
• If you plan to have surgery with prolonged bedrest

* Though not listed by the FDA, most clinicians consider smoking in someone older than 35 to be a contraindication. The World Health Organization (WHO) does list this as a contraindication.