New estimates of mortality associated with fertility control.

Recent data on mortality related to pregnancy and to use of various contraceptive methods show that up to age 30 the risk to life among noncontraceptors from pregnancy and childbirth is far in excess of that experienced by users of any method. After age 30, the mortality risk experienced by pill users who smoke rises dramatically, but among nonsmokers the risk remains relatively low--and is lower than the risk of death among noncontraceptors even after age 40. Safest at all ages is condom or diaphragm backed up by abortion.