Contraception in your 40s

[GinghamWorld]

Interested to hear what everyone uses, post DC?

I've somehow managed on the pill my whole life but it feels old-fashioned now?All I hear about is coils and implants. Sounds so scary to me! I don't have many girlfriends in real life to discuss this with, so let me know!

I'm marvellously happy with my two DC and really need to get something sorted out so we don't rock the boat with a third!

Thank you!

My decent husbands will do the decent thing.

Most decent husbands!

I have just gotten the Mirena in as we (mostly me) aren't sure if we are done have children. I'm still breastfeeding and hadn't actually gotten a period yet. But the Merina did bring it on and I have been bleeding almost six weeks now.

I’m on my second Mirena. Love it. Don’t have to think about it and my GP has also just enlightened me to the fact it plays a part in HRT when peri menopause strikes. Mine needs changing this year and it’ll be swapped out for another one.

Mirena here, reduced my periods to spotting and apparently helps with peri menopause too, found my symptoms dissipated so guessing they were correct

Copper coil. Love it. No hormones, lasts for years, very effective.

Infertility

Implant. Love it. Will continue to use it until I’m past menopause.

Thats interesting, does it help?

Early 40s: combination of condoms, cycle tracking & nothing. We weren't actively trying but wouldn't have been upset if it happened. He was then diagnosed with cancer and died.

Mid-late 40s: new partner, initially condoms then after we both did STI screens diaphragm & contraceptive gel. Prescribed by GP 4.5 years ago with no problems, because increasingly hard to get (due to manufacturing) and haven't had a new one for about 3 years. Still Prescribed the gel. And the GP at my practice who fits them has now retired.

Now 50, still using an old diaphragm and gel.

Unsure if I’m there yet. I’ve had some blood tests but the test for menopause isn’t greatly reliable so on that particular day, my hormone levels were fine. GP just mentioned it contributes because it contains hormones so only gel would be needed.

Had mine for 7 weeks now and I've been bleeding ever since. I finally stopped bleeding about a week ago and thought it had settled down, but it just started up again yesterday. I had it put in for heavy periods and although it's definitely lighter bleeding than I'd have during my period I'm so done with bleeding every day!

@Grampire I'm quite annoyed at bleeding this much! I didn't have heavy periods before children, in fact I barely had periods thanks to breastfeeding both of them.

Can't wait til this stops, apparently it can be upto 12 weeks 🤦‍♀️

Out of interest how do you know you're past menopause if it plays a part in HRT?

Asking because I m pushed out a baby 7 months ago and now my mother in law tells me I'm menopausal every time I feel warm

I've been on the coil for 2 and a bit year and I've had so many problems with it so my partner had decided to get the snip 🙏 we have 3 children and are definitely done, gets done on the 20th so not long till I can get this awful thing out.

@Grampire and @Winniethepig gosh sorry to hear that! The mirena seems to be a bit marmite, people either love it or have horror stories (though the minority).

I'm also off to Google the difference between mirena coil and copper coil. I was given a leaflet at my 6 week postpartum check and have long misplaced it. My gut feeling at the time was to go for the implant as it seemed less invasive but I'm not sure!

I like the idea of the Mirena helping with peri menopause symptoms though. I seem a lot more sensitive to my hormones since having DC and dread the peri menopause already.

We're using condoms for now but it's a bit of a faff. We were really lucky to conceive first attempt with both DC too so the 97% makes me nervous!

Nothing, tend not to have sex much! Had the pill and Mirena etc pre-DC. He won’t have the snip and I’ve had bad reactions to hormonal contraception for years, near permanent bleeding with the Mirena and tried a new kind of pill last year and had permanent bleeding with that too. It’s annoying as I feel it’s DH’s turn to do something given I’ve had both natural births and c-sections but there you go! It is a huge cause of resentment between us!

Condoms. I refuse to go on any form on female contraception (I have a reason against each type). Husband doesn't want the snip. Condoms is it.

I still have regular periods on the implant, so I’ll keep an eye on that as an indicator. I’m actually also on HRT as I’m peri (diagnosed via anxiety, bladder irritability, insomnia, joint pain and night sweats) but GP suggested I stay on implant until either I haven’t had period in 2 years, or until 55, then come off implant and use other methods for a short time to see if I’ve hit menopause.

Minera. Another fan and I didn’t know about the peri being easier…might be handy when I get there.

I'm 37 but well past wanting another baby! I had a mirena coil fitted in October - the insertion was actually horrible and I was uncomfortable for a couple of weeks but it then settled down and has been great since. I have only a very light bleed for 1-2 days each month so far. I would recommend giving it a try, it feels good to be off anything oestrogen based.

@Darkdiamond - that’s us too when we get round to it. It worries me though as I’m still of the age to be able to conceive and got PG easily with other DC. I also don’t like condoms very much!

I’m 46 and taking the mini pill.

For any of those whose partners had a vasectomy, did you discuss what would happen if you ever broke up and your partner started a new relationship?

I went through the differences between copper and mirena, and my doctor said copper would be unlikely to lessen heavier periods. But, the mirena would help with that and or stop them all together (still waiting), and the hormones are the equivalent of one mini pill a week, so very low as that was my concern, having too much hormonal change.

So far, the lengthy bleed is the only issue. Also, I'm in US at the minute and got my IUD under twilight sedation. Not sure if thats an option for you in UK but it was like going on vacation, woke up extremely sleepy and relaxed 😂

New relationship as in trying to reverse it and have children?

If I assume right, our GP said it can be possible to reverse but its quite difficult and shouldn't be relied upon