Birth control drugs are pills commonly prescribed to women in order to avoid pregnancy, but also as a treatment for various menstrual disorder such as amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), dysmenorrheal (painful menstruation) and hypermenorrhea (heavy bleeding). They prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation, keeping the mucus of the cervix thick so sperm won’t penetrate it, preventing an egg from implanting in the uterine lining. There are more than 40 brands of birth control drugs available, and they can be: progestin only pills (Micronor, Nor-QD, Ovrette) or combined birth control pills: Apri, Desogen, Mircette, Yasmin, Alesse, Aviane, Levlen, Zovia, Brevicon, Genora, Loestrin, Ortho-Cyclen, Low-Ogestrel, etc. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious heart problems associated with use of this medicine. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day). Women who are older than 35 years old have great risk. Women who use this medicine should not smoke.