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?

If you have definitely finished with babies, maybe ask the doctor for a sterilisation? You may have to ask a couple of times. Or the implant, coil, injection?

Following as I’m considering this too!

I had Depo Provera injections every 10 weeks, went straight through the menopause without noticing! Came off the injections when I was 52. So easy, no issues, no side effects. I tried the mirena coil but despite everyone saying how wonderful it was it really didn't suit me, I had a lot of stomach cramps and random bleeding. Be guided by your doctor but imho there's no problems with what you're proposing.

I was on the pill gedarel until I was over 52. Then put on the prostregen only pill which I only took for 2 months because I became very depressed since my periods which were regular stopped. I started a 3 month supply of Marvelon and my mood changed, regular bleeding. I was unable to get any more of the combined pill when I was 52 and a half months old. My periods have stopped and I am always in a bad mood, depressed, and feeling down. I have just turned 53.

I have the copper coil. I'm 33. Have 4 kidd and I don't want any more hormonal contraception. Nor do I want dh or i to have unnecessary surgery. Only down sides are it can be painful inserting and periods can be heavier. But plus side is it lasts 10 years. So I will only need one more before I am menopausal. Whereas the mirena is every 5 years and is still hormones.

I'm still on Cerazette despite being over 50, the doctor has said unless something changes healthwise, she will prescribe it until 55.

I (46) have stayed on pill for 2 reasons. I don't have periods when I'm on it and def don't want them and I'm actively planning to stay on for as long as possible to help with peri-menopause symptoms. Even if DH had tge snip I'd still want to take it.

If you were fine in the pill, go for that (assuming no medical contraindications- ask your GP). If they say you cant take the combined pill, consider the mini pill. I’m on the mini pill and it’s great- no side effects no periods.

I’m mid-40s and on the mini pill. Have been for years. Means I don’t have periods which is brilliant. Drs are obsessed with trying to get me to have a mirena coil, but this works for me.

@shrinkingthiswinter they really are! I hear this from most women! I went for the copper. I had decided and she tried hard to sway me off. And said I would regret it and come back to switch to mirena! I have had it for 3 years. I told her I wanted the copper as after some good years on the pill I started bleeding for 3 weeks of the month. It was awful. So her solution was to keep the hormones in my body permanentl🤔

I highly recommend reading 'How the Pill Changes Everything' by Dr Sarah E. Hill. 'The Hormone Repair Manual' by Lara Briden is really good too, she gives a good overview of female hormones beyond 40 and the impact that the pill can have.

One thing to consider with the pill is that you don't get the benefits of natural estrogen and progesterone. Hormonal contraception uses synthetic estrogen and progestins, which can have an inflammatory effect for some women. There are some academic research papers too which suggest that the contraceptive pill has a negative effect on the liver.

I stayed on the pill until I was 51.
I originally went on it to cope with really awful periods age 16 rather than for contraception and every time I stopped it (except while pg) the symptoms came back. I tried to come off it at around 48/49 but had one period and thought "nope".
I tried again about a year ago and no periods so I don't take it now. I do wonder if its why I don't seem to have really had any issues with menopause apart from being a bit warm.
I didn't even bother my GP I just bought it online