PIP: The majority of epidemiological studies on the benefits and risks of oral contraceptive (OC) use have been conducted during the late 1960s and early 1970s when OCs had 50 mcg of estrogen. Based on these studies, the risk of death due to OC use for nonsmokers 35-39 years old was lower than using no contraceptive at all (14.1 deaths/100,000 women/year vs. 25.7 deaths/100,000 women/year). In addition to smoking, other contraindications include women with a history of angina, myocardial infarction, blood clots or stroke, estrogen dependent cancer, hypertension, a known lipid disorder, and women with hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver. Suitable 35 year old candidates for OC use would be nonsmokers with blood group O, at low risk for cardiovascular disease, and who might receive additional benefits, including those with severe dysmenorrhea or hypermenorrhea and possibly those who have a strong family history of osteoporosis, early menopause, or ovarian cancer. Practitioners should take a thorough history of these women and give a physical examination with a blood pressure check. They should also administer screening tests, such as a PAP test, mammograms, a lipoprotein profile, and a glucose test. After the practitioners have deemed these women to be healthy based on the examination and the results of the screening test, they then should prescribe only a low dose OC containing 50 mcg of estrogen. Today most estrogen based OCs contain 35 mcg and research on their effects have not yet begun. Scientists expect to find that the dose response effects for risks for thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, stroke, and gallbladder disease to be lower in users of the low dose preparations.