How many of you don’t use contraception?

[Mackers123]

Hi i’m just wondering really. Ive just read that the over 50’s have 1% chance of getting pregnant.

Ive not had a period since January and before that it was June. I’ve just started the mini pill which i’d rather not be on tbh

I'm playing Russian roulette. Personally I do not think I'll get pregnant, but I'm taking no measures to stop pregnancy other than not dtd very often.

me and partner are seriously considering this. i think the pill is making me depressed. Mum2jenny are you not having periods like me?

If it's making you depressed why aren't you using condoms ?

No periods, but was on the pill for many years.

I loathe condoms,I'd sooner be pregnant than use them!!

I found the Billings method of contraception worked for me. Not saying it's right for every one though.

i also hate condoms. what is the Billings method?

Google it, it gives you a good idea when to have sex and when to abstain. It's not anywhere near 100% effective, so don't use it if a pregnancy is a complete no no.

You can use it as a method for conceiving though.

The advice is you have to be 2 years post meno (under 50) to abaondon contraception and 1 year if you are over 50. That means 12 months with no period.

It's playing Russian Roulette because your body can have one last surge hormonally and produce eggs towards the end of your fertile life.

You can become pregnant but the likelihood is you'd miscarry or have a child with genetic abnormalities.

Is it really worth the risk for another year or so?

I was very fertile, got pregnant straight away with my 3 children, but now I’m not. I’ve had unprotected sex for the last 4 years and feel now, at 50, the likelihood of getting pregnant is so slim to be virtually non existent. If it did happen I wouldn’t have the child.

Be careful. My friend who had IVF 16 years ago to have twins, has just givens birth to her second set of twins naturally at 47. Completely unplanned.

i do know all that Queenofthenights but i just think 1% is v. low. ive never been pregnant so i don’t even know if i was ever fertile. but obviously i could be that 1% and be unlucky and fall pregnant. i was curious to how many don’t use protection as it’s not something people talk about.

MaidenMother how long have you not had a period for?

My DH had a former friend whose mum became pregnant at 49. The child had learning difficulties.

I used contraception till I was 52. My periods were a bit hit and miss for about 9 months prior to that. The last one was about 52.5

I take the mini pill and it has stopped my periods for the last 18 months. If you are on the mini pill, do not take lack of periods as a sign that you are menopausal. Only way to tell is to come off the pill and use other methods of contraception and see if your period returns.

ive not had a period since January last year and before that one it was June.

I think you could always find a story of someone who did get pregnant, i think the statistics are 13 a year for over 50 but most of them were through ivf or similar.

sorry correction last period Jan this year, before that June. Ive just looked back and mosty throughout 2016/7 it was every other month

Vintage goth i have only been on the mini pill for around 3 weeks before that i wasn’t using anything because i didn’t have to so i’m pretty up on when my last natural period was

Op I’m still having periods , I’m peri menopausal.

Faculty of sexual and reproductive health guidelines for contraception in women over 40, chapter 6:

www.fsrh.org/standards-and-guidance/documents/fsrh-guidance-contraception-for-women-aged-over-40-years-2017/

Mackers no one can decide for you. There is a risk, even if it's a small one, no doubt about that.

If you are happy to take the risk and then have a termination, that is the choice only you can make.

A work colleague (medical) got pregnant this year in her early 50s while she was on HRT. It happens.

I guess you have to ask yourself whether you could go through a termination or bring up a child at your age - if you couldn't face either you need to be more careful.

It's crazy that you would use a termination as your only method of "family planning" or "contraception" it's actually bordering on unethical.
Use a condom, withdrawal method or take the pill and suck it up.
Being willing to fall potentially pregnant and then have a termination is bonkers.