FOR NON-PREGNANT WOMEN WHO SMOKE OR
HAVE PARTNERS WHO SMOKE

If you are a smoker and not pregnant, now is the perfect time to stop smoking. Not only do you have self-help tools available to help you quit, but also drug therapies such as nicotine replacement (gum or patch) that can also be used. It is ideal to quit before you get pregnant so that you have a better chance of having a healthy baby. Not only that but smoking effects women too! Women who smoke are more likely to have irregular periods and infertility problems as well as earlier menopause. But the effects of smoking don't stop there. Did you know that more women die of cancer and heart disease if they smoke. This year alone lung cancer will kill nearly 68,000 in the United States. If you have diabetes and you smoke your chances of dying at a younger age are much greater. And if you smoke your children are also more likely to smoke and have all these health risks. You don't even have to smoke to be affected by the smoke. If you want to read more about the health consequences of smoking go to: www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/womenandtobacco

So if you have questions or need help to quit click on the links below. Be sure to talk to your health care provider (doctor, nurse, midwife, practitioner) about your desire to quit because THEY CAN HELP YOU! It's not easy to quit and most people have to try several times to quit so if you've tried before don't worry; it's a great time to try again.

www.4woman.gov/quitsmoking/important.cfm
www.quitnet.com
www.lungusa.org