Birth Control for over 40

DEL2C

What's your foolproof :binky: method 40+ ladies?

nikske

Not 40+ quite yet, getting there soon though, next year.

I use an IUD, easy, secure, no hastle especially if you have a busy life. You can have one with or without hormones, those without are a little less safe. Have used them safely for almost 20 years now.

Spiralli

I'm still on the first bc pill I started out on decades ago (Modicon), but I take what is supposedly the generic version now (Necon). I have no probs with it. Back then, it was a relatively low dose pill. Now, probably not. About 10-15 years ago, I tried changing to a lower dose, more "modern" pill and I didn't feel well on it (was the only thing that I changed, and I was on it for 2 months). So I am sticking with the old thing.

DEL2C

My 5yr time is up in Apr to remove the IUD. I haven't had any issues with it. I don't have health insurance right now and I know it's going to cost a lot for a new one. Even the pill, wonder what that is without Ins. :?So the old rule of no BC pill for women over 30 doesn't apply anymore?

Spiralli

I could be wrong on this, but I thought that Planned Parenthood (if you have one near you) will help women without insurance get birth control, and not always just handing them condoms.

I have asked my primary doc and my gyno about 45 being too old for the pill. They both told me that as long as I don't have the risk factors (smoking, etc.), that I am fine to stay on it if it's working for me.

DEL2C

Spiralli wrote: »

I could be wrong on this, but I thought that Planned Parenthood (if you have one near you) will help women without insurance get birth control, and not always just handing them condoms.

I have asked my primary doc and my gyno about 45 being too old for the pill. They both told me that as long as I don't have the risk factors (smoking, etc.), that I am fine to stay on it if it's working for me.

ah yes good suggestion, my husband's new job doesn't offer H.Ins. I've never been without it every so this is weird. We'll have to get some kind of catastrophic type I'm sure. Good point too about the risk factors, I think I read that somewhere before. It's been so long since I've had this talk with my Gyn. but I'll ask. Thanks Spiralli.

Robin-in-FL

I had to stop BC pills because they whacked my blood pressure. Two babies later I got an IUD, it works and I don't feel it. I have the copper one, it is good for 10 years, not 5. It doesn't stop your periods like the Mirena, but I was hormone-shy as blood pressure is nothing to mess around with. There are only those two kinds in the U.S.; I think in Europe they have others.

I didn't have the kind of insurance that paid for it, either. But it works out a lot cheaper in the long run than pills. Think 10 years times 13 lunar months times $25, that's $3,250. Even if you have to put the IUD on a credit card you could pay it off in a year and be done with cost for 9 years.

So to me it made the most sense, health, convenience, effectiveness and cost-wise and it's worked fine.

Risk is if you get one and don't like it, all that $ down the drain. And it doesn't do anything to make the periods lighter, like pills do, or stop them, like the Mirena IUD. So those I would say are the downside.

rbb

really be careful if you are considering the pill. my friend who was 51 last spring was given the pill by her gyn, really i think to control overly long periods. she told my friend if she only stayed on it 1 year it was safe.
well, fast forward to last july, a couple of months later, and she was rushed to the hospital in excruciating pain where they found lots of blood clots in her lungs. she is okay now, has to stay on coumadin for a year, then maybe on it for life of maybe just aspirin.
she had NO risk factors, either.

RacerWife7

I'm of the minority here on this, I'm sure. I have major health issues with hormones. So, taking the pill is just NOT an option for me. I really don't like the idea of the IUD. So, I passed on that suggestion from my GYN. We just use condoms. That's it. They work and they're cheap.

ringlets of fire

I was on Yasmin bc pills until I turned 40. My husband and I discussed options. He got a vasectomy. It was an amazingly quick procedure... 100% effective... no negative effects on sex life.

The one thing that I miss about the bc pill was the lighter period. Mine is inconveniently heavy on day 2. It also comes every 20-22 days. I was hoping it was just an adjustment to discontinuing the pill. However, it's a couple of years later and still just as bad.

DEL2C

I haven't had a real period in years and I really don't want to start again. I like the idea of the Mirena and not the copper one Robin solely for that reason. rbb that is scary stuff........I don't even mind condoms less messy but at this age I imagine our periods are really heavy....and crampy EEEeeeeeeek!

RedCatWaves

My husband had a vasectomy after our last baby was born 10 years ago. It's been awesome. I highly recommend it.

"They" say it's safe, but I wouldn't take birth control pills after 40 if you paid me.

WileE-Dead

ita w/ Spiralli.....

misspam

I second having the hubby get a vasectomy. My hubby had it done when our youngest was not quite a year old - almost 14 years ago. It was easy peasy and I would highly recommend it. Since you are without health insurance, I realize cost is an issue although I have no idea how much one costs. Hubby was active duty at the time and it was basically free.

I would not want be on any hormonal BC after the age of 40 - I don't trust that it's as "safe" as they say. I would use a barrier method: diaphragm, sponge, or condoms.

Robin-in-FL

DEL2C wrote: »

I haven't had a real period in years and I really don't want to start again. I like the idea of the Mirena and not the copper one Robin solely for that reason. rbb that is scary stuff........I don't even mind condoms less messy but at this age I imagine our periods are really heavy....and crampy EEEeeeeeeek!

Heavy, yes. Crampy, no.

I think if you find a subsidised place to get the Mirena one put in (county or Planned Parenthood), it would likely be affordable, and if it's not causing you any problems now, why change? Get another 5 years.

LadyV69

I've been on BC pills off and on for about 20 years. Right now I'm on Seasonique. Just before I went on it, my periods went from a 26 day cycle to totally irregular. Plus they lasted about 7 days. I specifically asked for Seasonique as you only get it 4 times a year and I was sick of the irregularity of my cycles. I have inquired about the IUD, but my ob-gyn won't put me on it since I've never had children. I haven't pursued the issue since within the next 10 years or so, it'll be a moot point for me and I'm used to the pill, so I figure I won't fix something that isn't broken.

RebeccaK

I had a tubal ligation about 10 years ago, mid-30's (would have done it waaaaay earlier but was told insurance considered me too young).

No complications, and definitely no regrets. I was single at the time, but I would still do it now that I'm married.

edit: how'd I miss all those middle posts, didn't catch that the insurance wasn't available... my personal experience is that this worked for me but without insurance I'd have probably moved to barrier methods if hormonal BC was not a comfortable option for me.

jeepcurlygurl

I used birth control pills for nearly 10 years (thank you Planned Parenthood). Then in my mid-20's I got myself 'spayed'. : ) Best thing I ever did. Insurance covered most of it luckily.
But without insurance I would have continued getting my birth control pills at Planned Parenthood.

hmkenny

rbb wrote: »

really be careful if you are considering the pill. my friend who was 51 last spring was given the pill by her gyn, really i think to control overly long periods. she told my friend if she only stayed on it 1 year it was safe.
well, fast forward to last july, a couple of months later, and she was rushed to the hospital in excruciating pain where they found lots of blood clots in her lungs. she is okay now, has to stay on coumadin for a year, then maybe on it for life of maybe just aspirin.
she had NO risk factors, either.

My doc gave me BC samples to try when I was in my upper 40's for the same reason, to control heavy & lengthy periods. I couldn't handle it emotionally. It really made me an emotional wreck. Had to stop taking them.

WileE-Dead

jeep, what did you have done? I would love it if the old hag would never visit again!

rudeechick

I am hormone sensitive so the Pill is not an option. And the IUD gave me VERY painful side effects. The Nuvaring resulted in an unexpected pregnancy at 44 (so much for my biological clock).... I vote for condoms or a diaphram.

jeepcurlygurl

Wile E Coyote - CFF Champ wrote: »

jeep, what did you have done? I would love it if the old hag would never visit again!

tubes tied. doesn't prevent the old hag from visiting me every 2-3 weeks, but did prevent rugrats which was much more important.
I'm thinking about giving Seasonique a try as I am so sick of these periods. I tried Seasonale and didn't like it at all. Lots of spotting for weeks on end so after a good 6 months try, I just went back to having periods. But I've read that Seasonique is better so we'll see.

2poodles

I had a hysterectomy (keeping my ovaries) at age 37. Absolutely fool-proof method of birth control! Of course I had already had a tubal with my final c-section, but still.....

WileE-Dead

jeepcurlygurl wrote: »

Wile E Coyote - CFF Champ wrote: »

jeep, what did you have done? I would love it if the old hag would never visit again!

tubes tied. doesn't prevent the old hag from visiting me every 2-3 weeks, but did prevent rugrats which was much more important.
I'm thinking about giving Seasonique a try as I am so sick of these periods. I tried Seasonale and didn't like it at all. Lots of spotting for weeks on end so after a good 6 months try, I just went back to having periods. But I've read that Seasonique is better so we'll see.

Oh, ok...yeah, I'd def rec the Seasonique. You do have to stay w/ the Seasonale a bit, but I think it's totally worth it! g/l

Curlee'smom

I have a mirena and I love it.

I tried NFP, but my leuteal phase was too short and we could only have relations for a VERY short time. I can't use a diaphragm due to pain issues. Dh hated condoms because he is large and I have latex allergy (believe me...you do NOT want itching down there!!) and the non-latex condoms didn't come in a bigger size. Plus, 95% of the time, they'd fall off!! I was interested in a tubal. My dr recommended the Mirena because I was also having terrible heavy periods between being over 40 and having Hashimoto's. My only problem was with insertion. I about went through the roof. Some people have had problems with side-effects. I have not. I am more than thrilled. We have spontaneity again and no more gushing...

Poochie

I have a question which I hope fits into this thread. Suppose you're an older (late 40s) woman who tolerates the pill well with no problems, and stays on it for years... how do you know when menopause has arrived? As I understand it, all the periods we have while on the pill are triggered by the pill's hormones.

mesue

No one on depo-provera? (injection) I have been on it since my early 20's--now 40--and I haven't had a period for most of my adult life, which is AWESOME! My doctor has never said when I would have to go off it, but I have often wondered the same thing as Poochie about menopause.

RedCatWaves

Poochie wrote: »

I have a question which I hope fits into this thread. Suppose you're an older (late 40s) woman who tolerates the pill well with no problems, and stays on it for years... how do you know when menopause has arrived? As I understand it, all the periods we have while on the pill are triggered by the pill's hormones.

My SIL went off the pill at 42, hoping to have another baby, to discover that she had already gone through menopause and didn't even know it.

You can have blood tests done at some point to ascertain if menopause has occured.

Kinky Rhonnie

I just wanted to chime in and say I'm in my fifth year on the Mirena and it has been a Godsend. I was a sufferer of heavy cyclces that lasted five to seven days and now I may have a cycle every three/four months. I have suffered no ill side effects and I do plan to get another Mirena in August when this one expires. I'd describe the insertion like one really big menstrual cramp! It was worth the one time insurance co-payment of $25. I'll definitely be looking into planned parenthood to see what assistance they can provide since I'm currently on lay off. HTH!

crwritt

Kinky Rhonnie wrote: »

I just wanted to chime in and say I'm in my fifth year on the Mirena and it has been a Godsend. I was a sufferer of heavy cyclces that lasted five to seven days and now I may have a cycle every three/four months. I have suffered no ill side effects and I do plan to get another Mirena in August when this one expires. I'd describe the insertion like one really big menstrual cramp! It was worth the one time insurance co-payment of $25. I'll definitely be looking into planned parenthood to see what assistance they can provide since I'm currently on lay off. HTH!

I'm glad the Mirena is working well for you. I had one a few years ago, it was working well then somehow it twisted, so it had to come out. The hormone shift combined with a fibroid I had caused massive bleeding. I was in the hospital for a week, with blood transfusions and eventually a UFE.

Just be careful and discuss bleeding, etc. with your doctor before you have it removed/replaced.If they insert a new one right after removing the old one you probably won't have an issue.