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Original poster

How confident are you in the advice that you don't need contraception after 55?

178 replies

Gelatibon · 27/03/2025 17:17

GP (and written NHS advice) says it's not required, even if you're still having some periods, after 55th birthday...

I know pregnancy is unlikely and a successful one even less so, but....

OP posts:
ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 27/03/2025 17:38

Mmm. Waiting for replies…….

wagnbobble · 27/03/2025 17:41

My GP couldn’t believe I’m still having regular periods at 55 when I went for HRT ( as I have other symptoms ) . Spoke to me like I was a freak . I would imagine she’d never prescribe hormone contraceptives . Do I think I could still get pregnant? possibly , and I just don’t want to risk that small chance

MigGril · 27/03/2025 17:43

I wouldn't be comfortable if I was still having regular periods. Women can often have a spike in fertility just before menopause.
That's how come my dad has a brother 20 years younger than him. Although my Gran was probably in her 40's rasher then 50's. I still wouldn't risk it.

Original poster
Gelatibon · 27/03/2025 17:46

The trouble don't really know if I'm having periods or not. I was having some periods, every 70-90 days before I started HRT 12 months ago. I now have a very light bleed every month

OP posts:
Chesticov · 27/03/2025 17:52
  • The menopause centre says

‘Over the age of 55 – the chance of pregnancy is low enough for all women to stop using contraception.‘

But yes OP I’d think if I was having regular periods then I might be that low chance.

MsCactus · 27/03/2025 18:09

I think you can be pretty confident tbh. There's studies on this.

If you look at the science, by the age of 40 three-quarters of your eggs have abnormalities and will result in early miscarriages/not a viable pregnancy.

By age 45, it's basically all of them. By age 50 - well, even with regular periods there's pretty much no chance.

There's less chance of a 50-year-old who is having periods and regular unprotected sex getting pregnant with a viable pregnancy than there is a 30 year old getting pregnant while using full contraception. The results are so incredibly low.

Whenever I say that on these boards though, people get annoyed and say they're definitely still fertile. I think it's a hard thing for people to accept

Neurodiversitydoctor · 27/03/2025 18:17

MsCactus · 27/03/2025 18:09

I think you can be pretty confident tbh. There's studies on this.

If you look at the science, by the age of 40 three-quarters of your eggs have abnormalities and will result in early miscarriages/not a viable pregnancy.

By age 45, it's basically all of them. By age 50 - well, even with regular periods there's pretty much no chance.

There's less chance of a 50-year-old who is having periods and regular unprotected sex getting pregnant with a viable pregnancy than there is a 30 year old getting pregnant while using full contraception. The results are so incredibly low.

Whenever I say that on these boards though, people get annoyed and say they're definitely still fertile. I think it's a hard thing for people to accept

This I stopped using contraception at 47 and a half having looked at the odds. Nearly 2 years on no pregnancy despite regular periods and unprotected sex.

HappyAsASandboy · 27/03/2025 19:31

MsCactus · 27/03/2025 18:09

I think you can be pretty confident tbh. There's studies on this.

If you look at the science, by the age of 40 three-quarters of your eggs have abnormalities and will result in early miscarriages/not a viable pregnancy.

By age 45, it's basically all of them. By age 50 - well, even with regular periods there's pretty much no chance.

There's less chance of a 50-year-old who is having periods and regular unprotected sex getting pregnant with a viable pregnancy than there is a 30 year old getting pregnant while using full contraception. The results are so incredibly low.

Whenever I say that on these boards though, people get annoyed and say they're definitely still fertile. I think it's a hard thing for people to accept

Whatever the statistics are, there are definitely people who have babies in their late 40s and early 50s. I have a friend who had twins at 50!

Summerhillsquare · 27/03/2025 20:31

Full term pregnancies from women in their 50's are vanishingly rare.

LividSunshine · 27/03/2025 20:35

HappyAsASandboy · 27/03/2025 19:31

Whatever the statistics are, there are definitely people who have babies in their late 40s and early 50s. I have a friend who had twins at 50!

Show quote history

Possibly she's also MY friend who had twins in her 50s via double donation (both egg and sperm) but told hardly anyone that fact...

I'd put money on the fact your friend's twins were not naturally conceived.

Newyorklady · 27/03/2025 20:36

I think chances of conception are extremely low.
ive just had coil removed am a similar age, periods regular until a year ago.
was told my coil probably hasn’t worked for years.

Sourwitch · 27/03/2025 20:37

Technically not impossible however the odds are about 100,000:1 so I wouldn’t bother taking contraception to prevent pregnancy at 55. I’d assume that ship had sailed many many years ago

HidingFromDD · 27/03/2025 20:39

Chance of a viable pregnancy may be v low but would you want to go through an unviable one, I wouldn’t. I was having your symptoms early 50s and still used contraception

Onlyvisiting · 27/03/2025 20:40

MsCactus · 27/03/2025 18:09

I think you can be pretty confident tbh. There's studies on this.

If you look at the science, by the age of 40 three-quarters of your eggs have abnormalities and will result in early miscarriages/not a viable pregnancy.

By age 45, it's basically all of them. By age 50 - well, even with regular periods there's pretty much no chance.

There's less chance of a 50-year-old who is having periods and regular unprotected sex getting pregnant with a viable pregnancy than there is a 30 year old getting pregnant while using full contraception. The results are so incredibly low.

Whenever I say that on these boards though, people get annoyed and say they're definitely still fertile. I think it's a hard thing for people to accept

Whilst a viable pregnancy might be extremely unlikely, conceiving and miscarrying feels like something most women would choose to avoid surely?

Sourwitch · 27/03/2025 20:42

Summerhillsquare · 27/03/2025 20:31

Full term pregnancies from women in their 50's are vanishingly rare.

In the real world, meanwhile on MN, 6 posts in and already someone’s mate had twins at 50 no bother! 😳

PermanentTemporary · 27/03/2025 20:42

I read up on the odds and didn't bother for pregnancy after 50 despite still having regular periods. However, sex without condoms was very infrequent at that point as I was having sex with multiple people, and was probably only managing sex once a fortnight at best.

The papers I read suggested that at 51 the chances of a natural conception leading to a live birth were 1%, which is better odds than younger women using condoms. I would have had an early abortion if necessary but didn't consider it a high risk.

Negroany · 27/03/2025 20:43

Gelatibon · 27/03/2025 17:17

GP (and written NHS advice) says it's not required, even if you're still having some periods, after 55th birthday...

I know pregnancy is unlikely and a successful one even less so, but....

My GP said "after 55" meant 56. I'm 57 this year and only now without contraception for the first time in ages. Not had sex since though.

Anyway, I'd say I'm pretty confident!

Sidge · 27/03/2025 20:44

Totally confident. I have never seen a natural pregnancy in a 55 year old.

LaTable · 27/03/2025 20:45

And that's how a friend is now in her later 50s with a 7 year old.....

If you don't want it, don't risk it at all
It's your health and if you push for bc, they should give it( begrudgingly )

Highfivemum · 27/03/2025 20:45

45 , yes. I know as it happened to me.
55, no chance

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 27/03/2025 20:47

MsCactus · 27/03/2025 18:09

I think you can be pretty confident tbh. There's studies on this.

If you look at the science, by the age of 40 three-quarters of your eggs have abnormalities and will result in early miscarriages/not a viable pregnancy.

By age 45, it's basically all of them. By age 50 - well, even with regular periods there's pretty much no chance.

There's less chance of a 50-year-old who is having periods and regular unprotected sex getting pregnant with a viable pregnancy than there is a 30 year old getting pregnant while using full contraception. The results are so incredibly low.

Whenever I say that on these boards though, people get annoyed and say they're definitely still fertile. I think it's a hard thing for people to accept

Yes but who wants to go through a miscarriage?

BillyBoe46 · 27/03/2025 20:48

HappyAsASandboy · 27/03/2025 19:31

Whatever the statistics are, there are definitely people who have babies in their late 40s and early 50s. I have a friend who had twins at 50!

Show quote history

My cousin had triplets at 53 😲

FrenchConnection1 · 27/03/2025 20:50

My periods are regular - I turn 52 next month and I stopped contraception a few years ago. I would be 100% confident if I was still having periods at 55!

BillyBoe46 · 27/03/2025 20:50

I wouldn't take the risk.

Crinkle77 · 27/03/2025 20:55

HidingFromDD · 27/03/2025 20:39

Chance of a viable pregnancy may be v low but would you want to go through an unviable one, I wouldn’t. I was having your symptoms early 50s and still used contraception

Yes exactly this. Who'd want to subject themselves to miscarriage or other complications.