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

[Gelatibon]

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....

I am slightly horrified to find out I could still be having periods in 10-15 years time. At the age of 42 I thought I only had a year or two left.

I don't bother with contraception these days as dh has had a vasectomy but now I'm thinking maybe I should.

I stopped taking the pill a few months ago and am 49. No periods yet, hope I'm done,🤞but I got pregnant so easily when we tried that we still use condoms.

Two of my friends fell pregnant mid-40’s. One was 45 and the other was 47! I 100% know that both conceptions were natural, because they were both in a state of shock when they had their pregnancies confirmed. 😂

The mort bizarre aspect was that the 45-year-old had needed IVF to have her older children! The human body is amazing though,

My DH had the snip after our second child, but if he hadn’t, I think that because of their experiences, I’d use contraception until 50.
I’ll be 51 this year and my eggs must be defunct now, even though I still have regular periods.

That's what I was thinking 🤔
Why risk it?

At what point would the pregnancy fail? At implantation or would it be nearer 12 weeks when the placenta can't take over. Or worse even later???

If he's had the snip there's no worries. But yes some women are still regular at late 50s. I know my mum was.

@BruFord I have PCOS and very irregular periods 6-12 weeks was normal.
I got my first child at 36 naturally, started trying for second at 37 ended up with IVF at 41.
Once I got to about 44 my periods decided to settle down and can actually be predictable for the first time in my life.

@Needspaceforlego Ah, perhaps that was also the case with my friend. She was really shocked when she became pregnant!

Happily, both she and my other friend had healthy babies, no major problems for either of them.

This is hilarious 😂

It's not hard for most some to accept in their fifties!! They're just sensible and do not want to get pregnant, even if ni way viable.

Your comment is pretty patronising. And also a tad ridiculous

Low chance is not no chance. I’m not 55 yet, but I’m pretty sure I’m still ovulating. If DH had not had a vasectomy, we would be using birth control.

I don’t want to have to go through a termination. Prevention is my personal choice.

I was 53 when my periods finally started tailing off - intermittent, little pain, light bleeding, few days. Then shortly after I turned 55, I had one last big heavy one which I believe could have lead to a pregnancy IF I had not still been taking precautions.
My g-grandmother had her last child at 47 so I was inclined to not take any chances.

Late menopause runs in my family - so, no, I would not be without contraceptives.

Much easier than the consequences.

I am 51, almost 52, have Mirena for HRT that ran out last year for contraception and ....not at all.

My great grandmother was my age when she gave birth to twins ("change of life" pregnancy) and I got pg first month of trying with all of mine bar one!

Thankfully, I am happily single so not an issue but last year I told then DP that I would get a new Mirena and would need to use condoms until then. His reaction is one of the reasons I am single!

I’m 51 and never had regular periods due to PCOS but I got pregnant very easily at 20 and 22. I still wouldn’t risk it at the moment. I never want to her my grandsons tell people that their Nana is having a baby!

Unless you are Janet Jackson I'd say you are okay!
The chances of getting pregnant naturally are less than 1%

I kept my coil in until 60

Ok it was supposed to have been removed aged 55, but lockdown happened and those sort of appointments went to the wall. It was last year before my GP rang and said we are just getting around to catching up

I had that coil inserted aged 49 and I did have to argue to get it , they ( gp ) were of the mind it wasnt needed, I was of the mind Ive spent my life avoiding pregnancy and I don't want to be caught at the last knockings

I had a friend years ago who had periods until she was 56. She didn't become pregnant but......I wouldn't take the risk, frankly. I'd use contraception, a cap or something.

Just wouldn't take the risk. Women were having successful pregnancies in their 50s 50 years ago (no ivf etc). I feel some women are healthier now in their 50s, living longer etc so....

This is my unmedical opinion!

The only pregnancies I've seen professionally in people aged 46+ have been assisted conceptions. Obviously that's anecdotal but all these friends and cousins with multiples in their 50s I would strongly suspect have been abroad for some fertility treatment (ethics and regulations and rates mean UK fertility clinics generally won't offer at older maternal ages).

I think some of these very late babies were the teenage daughters'. Seriously conception in your 50's is vanishingly rare.

But that’s not 55 is it? So your point is

i am nearly 58. Still having regular periods.

One was a lady having her first pregnancy at 52, so no daughters around! The son is over 50 now so no assisted pregnancy.

But I actually am happy to hear how rare this is. Maybe 55 is safe after all.

Very, very rarely.

Actually it’s pretty ridiculous to suggest that women are falling pregnant over the age of 55. They’re not.

Even on this thread we have people saying things like “well, I got pregnant in my late 40’s so obviously it’s possible” while losing sight of the fact that 55 is 7/8 years down the track.

Even non viable pregnancies are vanishingly rare. You’re more likely to fall pregnant using contraception in your 30’s than not after the age of 55, and yet you don’t hear people telling women that contraception isn’t enough and they should do more if they don’t want a pregnancy.

Fertility drops, whether women want to admit it or not.

It’s natural to think that you could fall pregnant if you’re still having periods, but that doesn’t mean that you can.

I’m 54 on HRT and getting periods again. I’m definitely concerned. First thing the gynecologist did when she put my on HRT is remove the coil. DH now withdraws. He has other options. I don’t.

100% confident wow!
I’m similarly having regular periods, 52, saw GP about having expiring mirena out and she said still having periods still can get pregnant (viable or not and most likely not) I had another mirena whipped in there pretty sharpish I’m not taking that risk!