Swiss Medical Weekly · Published 2026-06-17 · DOI 10.57187/5069
Iliana Calabretti, Sara Caviglia, Katharina C. Quack Lötscher, Nicole Ochsenbein-Kölble, Ana Paula Simões-Wüst
OBJECTIVE: Changes in societal lifestyle trends can influence women’s health and alter their risk profile. In women of childbearing age, this can affect their pregnancy outcomes and the health of their future children. However, limited data exist on how health status, medication use and drug consumption in women of childbearing age in Switzerland have evolved over recent decades. The aim of the study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the health status and lifestyle changes of the young female Swiss population over the past 30 years. METHODS: Data from all seven nationwide Swiss Health Surveys conducted every five years by the Federal Statistical Office were analysed. Various health- and lifestyle-related variables were selected while focusing on reproductive women aged 15 to 49 years. Results were calculated as either frequencies in percentage or means with 95% confidence intervals. All statistics were conducted using IBM SPSS with a design-based approach, applying weights to align with the sociodemographic distribution of the Swiss population. RESULTS: Over the past three decades (1992–2022), female participants in the Swiss Health Surveys exhibited increasing educational attainment (rising from 5.4% to 35.9% earning a university degree) and employment rate (from 63.3% to 82.6% employed). Other sociodemographic characteristics remained relatively stable. Health self-ratings improved: the proportion of women reporting “very good” health increased from 31.4% in 1992 to 46.2% in 2022. The prevalence of severe physical symptoms and chronic medical conditions increased over time, with modest rises in the diagnoses of hypertension, hyperchosterolaemia and diabetes. Concerning the use of healthcare services, complementary medicine has experienced a notable increase in usage, with a 28.1% rise in the number of participants reporting its use. Psychological health consultations and treatment for mental health disorders more than doubled during the study period. Focusing on lifestyle factors, the mean body mass index (BMI) increased from 21.7 to 23.2, reflecting a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity. Physical activity levels increased modestly, particularly in moderate-intensity activities, while medication use rose by 18 percentage points. Although the proportion of participants using contraception remained stable at around 70%, the use of oral contraceptives decreased by 27.5 percentage points, while the use of intrauterine devices and condoms steadily increased. Alcohol consumption patterns showed a general decline in both the frequency and absolute daily amount consumed. Tobacco use decreased overall, with a marked reduction in cigarette consumption. Conversely, the use of illicit substances, particularly cannabis, showed an upward trend. CONCLUSIONS: In Switzerland, the population of women of childbearing age has undergone marked changes in terms of educational attainment and employment rates over the last 30 years. An increase in physiological and psychological diagnoses, alongside the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as high BMI, high cholesterol and diabetes, raise growing concerns. Preventive efforts and counselling seem to have led to positive outcomes in promoting a higher level of nutritional awareness and physical activity as well as in reducing smoking and alcohol consumption. Emerging challenges, however, represent new risks to women’s health. In particular, new smoking products and increased drug consumption deserve the attention of future research. Overall, the observed developments underscore the importance of addressing the health of women of childbearing age, ensuring that they have the necessary support to conceive with minimal risk factors.
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Calabretti, I., Caviglia, S., Lötscher, K., et al. (2026). Trends in health- and lifestyle-related aspects in women of childbearing age: analysis of Swiss Health Survey data between 1992 and 2022. Swiss Medical Weekly. https://doi.org/10.57187/5069