To think I’m out of contraceptive options

[MandyRice]

I was on microgynon my whole life and loved it but at 44 I’m too old now.

Tried a coil twice and expelled it both times (doctor thinks it might be the shape of my cervix).

Now on Cerazette (mini pill) but it’s giving me mood swings.

Is there something I’m missing? I’m starting to think I need to get off hormonal contraception as the only one which suited me is no longer safe. What else is there? Diaphragm? I can’t get my head round how this works unless you know in advance exactly when you’re going to have sex or else kill the mood by disappearing off to the bathroom for 10 minutes, and the whole idea of it makes me feel a bit grim.

Am I missing something? DH isn’t up for a vasectomy and that’s fine. Half tempted just to assume I’m too old to have a baby and bin the lot.

Patch or implant? I know lots of people who have got on well with the latter.

I’m early 40s and use the implant. At our age we are fine on progesterone type contraception, I’m on my third implant and they last for 3 years. I would definitely use something, you are likely still able to get pregnant.

What's wrong with condoms? Why should contraception be solely your responsibility/ problem?

Thank you. Does anyone know if the implant is less likely to cause side effects than the mini pill?

I was on Desogestrel until I was 52. Am 53 now. I only stopped it due to an injury meaning I couldn’t drive to get them otherwise I’d still be on them!

I had my babies at 43 and 46 so I would definitely err on the side of caution.

Did they not suggest you stopped taking it?

You can order certain types of contraception via the post from on line pharmacies including Desogestrel

You can also buy from chemists & pharmacies

Contraception is suggested until approx 55

Why not condoms?

You can take microgynon up until age 50 if there’s no contraindications (ie if you don’t smoke/aren’t overweight/no strong family history breast cancer etc)

If you’re having mood swings it may be worth considering if you’re perimenopausal. Microgynon would have masked symptoms of this as it has oestrogen in it but now you are just on a progestogen only pill it’s possible you might be experiencing some symptoms of this?
if so you could consider starting a low dose HRT alongside your mini pill if appropriate for you.

Other options like the depo injection and implant are worth considering too! Or you could try an alternative mini pill.

Don’t abandon contraception altogether. There’s still every chance you could be fertile and it’s much harder dealing with an unwanted pregnancy than it is sorting contraception. Contraception is recommended to age 55 unless you become post menopausal before this.

I was like you and couldn’t have the implant as I tried it once and bled for the whole 3 months. I gave up contraception around the age of 42. I was in a relationship until almost 50. Never got pregnant. I have 2 adult DC so not infertile. I still have regular periods now (at 52) so haven’t been through menopause. Yes of course there is a chance you could get pregnant. But with every year that chance gets smaller.

Have you looked at the ring @MandyRice Google it and ask your gp

He needs to wear condoms.

You can take the mini pill for as long as you like. It’s the combined pill they don’t like you taking as you get older as the oestrogen in it can cause issues with clots / strokes etc. (HRT has oestrogen that is absorbed through the skin in the newer types so less risk). I am on the mini pill as I have anaemia due to autoimmune issues and don’t want periods - been on it 10 years now, no issues and no bleeding and will be on it as long as I possibly can (I’m mid 40s). I also take oestrogel and utrogestan for HRT (I’m in early menopause).

op don’t assume you won’t get pregnant! Either stick with the mini pill a while longer to give it a good go or maybe think about having tubes tied if your dh won’t have the snip?

I hate condoms. They make me really sore - even the non latex ones. I’d just never have sex if that was the only option.

I find it odd how people trot out “just use condoms” on these threads. For a lot of us they’re just horrible.

I used a diaphragm for years and got on really well with it.

The doctor who sorted it made a point of telling me to put it in every night before bed, because "we all know what those middle of the night cuddles can lead to".

I only stopped using it because I moved to a different county where they didn't have family planning clinics and it was hard to get an appointment with a specialist nurse. I started having depo injections then.

It's 20 years since my menopause, and there are so many more options now.

Has there ever been a verified case of a woman over 50 having a natural conception and birth?

the chances of someone needing to use contraception at that age are so small as to be statistically zero

@Afterfire if both latex and non latex condoms make you sore I would politely suggest you try more lubrication.

If you do want to try the diaphragm you can buy the same one they give out on the NHS in the sex clinics from Amazon - it’s called the Cava. I’ll link in a min. They don’t do different sizes like they used to (when I was 19 ish I had one fitted, they measured you etc) but now they just give you this one. I found it very uncomfortable and it make my recurrent UTIs much worse but a lot of women really like it. You can insert it quite a while before you think anything might happen.

CAYA Contoured Diaphragm & MedIntim ContraGel Green amzn.eu/d/7MPpuKh

Just had a look and they don’t seem to have many options to buy it now - it’s £65 from this seller (!) but I got given one free on the NHS.

I already use Ovestin and Replens etc etc. I have sjorgens syndrome and lupus so yes pretty dry but too much lubricant and it just feels uncomfortable in a different way. I just really hate condoms. I can see they have their uses from an STD / new relationship point of view but I’d never use them in a long term relationship in place of different contraception.

Condoms?

Having tried and hated most of the things you mention in my early twenties, I went back to condoms and that worked great for me. Way better than messing wirh my hormones or shoving bits of metal into my softest places. Someone upthread says condoms make her sore but I’ve never had any problems with them maybe try a few kinda and lube if needed.

I don’t get on with any hormonal contraception, I haven’t tried the copper coil but have had so many friends with bad experiences that I don’t want too! Been with my partner 15 years and have got 4 kids. We just use condoms now! My friends can’t believe that in a long term relationship that’s what we do but it works for us!

I love my implant but I think the info out there about it is bad. Lots of people have bleeding that won't stop on its own so they give up with it. For me this has always been stopped by taking the pill for a few days. When I have my implant it's very rare for me to have any periods at all.