To stay on contraceptive pill until menopause?

[Merrz]

I'm 35, finished having children. Was on the pill for 13 years from 16 until 29, worked very well for me, no issues with it. Came off the pill to have kids, took a year to get pregnant which I think was down to having been on the pill for so long and my body taking a while to get back to normal cycling, happened a lot faster with baby no 2. Haven't been on hormonal contraception for 6 years but now wondering what I do long term, DH won't get the snip. AIBU to just go back on the pill for the next 15 maybe 20 years? Slightly concerned how much it slowed down my cycles/bleeding when i was on it before but if I'm not getting pregnant again, does it matter? What other reasons are there not to stay on it for that long term?

I don't understand why you have posted this in AIBU.

What is 'being unreasonable' got to do with a choice of contraception?

It's 100% your choice.

If you are worried about risks, talk to your GP or maybe ask on the Women's health forum on MN.

It's licensed for use up to 50 in non-smoking healthy women.

Talk to your GP about any concerns of the FPC.

I mean my dh has had the snip and I’m going to stay on it as long as I can because I use it to stop my periods. They have to grab it out my cold dead hands 😂

I turn 50 this year and have taken the mini pill for over 15 years since having my kids, no periods !!

I was on the pill till I was 51 (the GP didn't notice when I passed 50). It suited me fine, I have (had?) PCOS and Marvelon kept the symptoms under control. I'd often run packs together, not bleeding is a bonus imo.

If there's a pill that suits you, of course YANBU to take it. Otoh, If there isn't one which suits you then don't.

now wondering what I do long term, DH won't get the snip

No snip, no PIV sex seems a reasonable way forward for me.

Simples.

Are you assuming the OP doesn’t enjoy PIV sex?

I think DH would be persuaded to have the snip if he had to but he's not keen. It seems everyone once they're finished having kids go on some sort of major long term contraception (the snip/implant etc) and I really just wondered if there's a reason why people don't just carry on with the pill, is it just so you don't have to worry about taking the pill every day or is there other reasons?
Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong place, couldn't find a contraception board.

Let's all emotionally blackmail our men in to unwanted surgery. Way to go!

I’m sure there are plenty of women who stay on it if they suit it, the women they normally advise not to carry on are those who are smokers and those who are obese due to increasing risk factors with age. As the pill increases breast cancer risk I think perhaps some people may choose to come off if they have worries due to their family history

I thought they (NHS at least) don't recommend the pill after a particular age due to a higher risk of stroke etc.

The first hormone free coil (I started getting a bad reaction to hormone pills) was awesome. The second I had to have taken out due to pain, but I have an awkward tilted pelvis

I would recommend trying the coil, if you don't like it you can always have it taken out.

Ever heard of condoms?

Also perhaps suggest to your husband about using condoms til menopause if he won’t have a vasectomy,if that’s not what you are doing already?? I certainly wouldn’t choose the implant over the pill if I was happy with the latter.

fine until 40. But my GP and the nurse at my surgery kept cajoling me to come off it because of the increased risk of clotting/ health complications as you get older.

I’m very fit, Lower end of BMI and non smoker. But the advice was still to come off combined pill.

mini pill safer for longer though. But it doesn’t agree with me.

Coil is a good option. Condoms?

I'm considering this, mini pill, age 43. How do you know if you go through menopause though? my mum stayed on the pill and didn't notice so not sure when/how you check

It is what I intend to do, I am on combined pill and will be staying on it until aged 50.

Thanks very much for all your replies, that's helpful.

I’m now 50. My GP advised against it for me after about 40 (possibly due to being overweight although I also had the impression it wasn’t advised after a certain age - could be wrong). I had the mirena coil which was fantastic, no bleeds and no remembering to take a pill).

Thanks, thats a couple of people mentioned the coil, I might try it

risk of breast cancer is a major problem. ocp generally associated with a fair amount of risk with LT use. you can try the copper coil as that has less of a risk profile. or even the mirena coil. implants are worse than ocp as higher doses of hormone. the mini pill is also slightly lower risk than the combined ocp and less side effects. I would recommend a discussion with GP. the fact that it has become a social norm that women have to take the responsibility for contraception by filling their body with pregnancy hormones and accepting the risk boggles my mind.

There are two types of pill.
The combined pill ( Take for 21 days then have a break Eg Microgynon) does increase risk of breast cancer and blood clots so generally advised to stop over 35 especially if overweight/smoker.

However the progestogen only pill (Take every day no break Eg Cerazette/desogestrol) is much safer and can be continued to menopause.

I am on the latter since kids. No periods. Love it!

stop over 35 if smoker yes, but otherwise benefits outweigh risks up to 50 unless another contraindication such as BMI over 30. advice now is to take continuously or just a 4 day break every few months, no need for a 7 day break each month. I'm planning to stay on it til 50 then straight switch to HRT.

I stayed on the minipill until I was 52. Came off ...and... nothing! Menopause had happened without me noticing.
It wasn't a problem to not know that it had happened. It was marvellous.
I don't see any disadvantage in not knowing! I was blissfully unaware.
For most women there could be lots of other symptoms that tell you you're in menopause besides what's happening with periods- poor sleep, brain fog etc

IME the doctors did try and get me on the coil. I genuinely think there's some kind of financial incentive for them. But I really didn't fancy it so stuck with minipill.
Have a look at the NICE guidelines concerning older women/ the pill/ contraception/ menopause. They'll give you the NHS guidelines and recommendations that GPs (should) follow.

I've got a mirena, certainly much easier than the pill and helps with peri menopause I think

Hormonal coil is a lot more reliable than the minipill and has lower stroke risks than the combined pill. Also often removes or reduces periods which is a bonus.