To give up contraception at age 52?

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AIBU to think that I can give up on contraception at the age of 52? Or perhaps this is more a WWYD?

We've used condoms since conception of DD 20 years ago. DH is now not getting on well with condoms (understandable at his age - early 60s) so we'd like to stop, but the very last thing I need is an unwanted pregnancy.

It feels ridiculous to be worrying about contraception at my age, but NHS says you need contraception until 55 unless you've gone a year without periods. I've been on HRT for a few years and still bleed, so it's likely I'm peri still as otherwise I probably wouldn't bleed on the type I'm on. Really can't face changing anything hormonal so don't want to do Mirena or anything like that as I've only just found stability with the HRT I'm on and hated being on the pill when I was younger. WWYD?

YABU - keep going with the condoms
YANBU - no contraception necessary

This is from the link above. I had my last Mirena fitted when I was 45, so eight and a half years ago. As I understand it, the hormones in the Mirena are not effective after six years, so I will have been without hormonal contraception for two and a half years. I've had no bleeding whatsoever in that time.

Does that mean I'm safe?

Regardless of their advice, you may still need to use contraception beyond 3 years. That’s why lots of posters are saying your husband should have a vasectomy, worry gone. If you want to take responsibility for contraception, then more fool you.

A colleague had an accidental baby at 50, she has a grandson older! This has always made me paranoid.

Yes you have it taken out at 55

My DH had a vasectomy and said apart from his balls itching (where they’d been shaved for the procedure), it was a piece of cake. I know if I gave him the choice of condoms for 3y or a snip it would be the latter

DH refused to have one, which is absolutely his choice being his body and all. I wish he'd agreed to it though. Decades of hormonal contraception has not been great for me.

God could think of nothing worse Im 52!! Op I think yes would use something. Ive coil in place

Yes it was! They had unsuccessful IVF in earlier years and gave up. She went to the doctor with menopause symptoms and was told she was 4 months pregnant.

.

That link says the risk at 50 is ‘much lower’ than 10%.

not sure if it’s satire but… pre-cum IS a thing and ‘pulling out’ isn’t a method of contraception.

Yeah... I'm sure.

Anyway OP, stats show you have less than 1% chance of conceiving at 52 which is about as effective as any contraception on the market.

Why would I lie! I met my partner when he was 29, his uncle and aunt were in their 4O's then and they had a baby not long after we met, about 5 years later they had another one! Why are you being so rude about it? Google it as you'll find immediate evidence, Naomi Campbell had a baby at 50! Why would you think that women's bodies have a magic off switch? Why do you think as women get older they start looking at tests to make sure there are no issues or downs Syndrome etc? Because pregnancies can happen in older women! Do some googling and come back and apologise for accusing us all of lying!

Read back, I never accused you of lying.

So what does "yeah...I'm sure" mean then.if not directly calling me a liar?

My bad, sorry. I had missed the detail about the OP being on HRT.

Donor egg most likely.

I thought Naomi Campbell had her baby via surrogate.

Apparently not, she have birth at 51 and then at 63 she had a boy

Nope.

https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/naomi-campbell-confirmed-surrogate-two-children-b1162936.html

Note where it says "finally confirms" so for ages the media outlets where saying have birth as per the article I found
Naomi Campbell's 2 Kids: All About Her Daughter and Son https://share.google/V6Iif0MX0a6h7wo8l

A friend of ours was and it took quite a lot of fighting despite them having 5 kids between them.

My husband called up to enquire and two weeks later it was done. He was no kids, I have two from previous relationship.

Think it really depends on your local trust!

Could your DH get the snip?

I can’t believe everyone is pushing vasectomy as if there are no risks. It’s still surgery (even if minor) and 1-2% of men are left with ongoing pain for example. That’s quite high imo. I can see why you might take that risk if you have decades ahead of having to use birth control but not for 3 years.

Personally OP I am also 52 and think the risk of pregnancy is tiny. I am having similar thoughts to you but will probably carry on using condoms just in case! If we were struggling with these I’d probably consider a cap instead.

I'm 53. I'm on Mirena so don't have periods and don't know whether I am post-menopausal or not. I wouldn't risk it!!