Contraception

[spartanrunnergirl]

Wondering what contraception women use late 40s? I'm not on the pill still have periods (not always regular now) have been using condoms but both want to stop using them. Obviously less likely to get pregnant but still a risk.

I’m 38. I’ve had the copper coil in for the past 5 yrs. I liked that it had no hormones in.

But then my dh began to complain that he could feel it, and after a while it started to irritate my cervix.

I now have an implant, I’ve only had it for 3 wells and I want it taken out!… I am having daily heart palpitations that I’m blaming the implant on.

Sorry, not all positive, but wanted to give my experience.

The copper coil might be a good fit for you?

My DH got the snip, best thing we did, no more hormonal contraceptives for me which in my opinion aren’t good for woman's bodies long-term.

I have the Levosert coil, previously had mirena. Best thing ever as no periods, no babies and sex when I want

You need to see your doctor about palpitations ASAP. In one sense they're harmless but the more they happen the more they happen and the end point isn't always nice.

If the implant might be the trigger, I suspect you need to get rid ASAP.

Argh it's a nightmare isn't it. We are the same. Married forever, both fed up of using condoms. V much don't want more children. But I'm highly sensitive to hormones which counts a lot of methods out and I'm reluctant to have a coil as the one I had previously was horribly painful on insertion plus I ride competitively and it really isn't comfortable.

So what options actually are there? DH is not exactly enamoured with the idea of having the snip.

Mirena coil for past few years. Condoms with new partners.

Oh it's so annoying isn't it?! I have the implant in (but I hate it) DH is booked to have the snip but it won't be until after Christmas as there are big waiting lists.

Thank you. I have an ecg booked for the 7th, and a telephone consult with a nurse on the 16th to then have another appointment to have it taken out… the gp can’t take it out.

I’m not happy with the time frames, but short of going to A&E I don’t know what else to do!

We used condoms until I was 44 and then DH got a vasectomy.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Wondered about mini pill which apparently is good til 55yrs. Cannot cope with idea of a coil. Snip not an option atm.

DP has mirena coil (initially to help with heavy periods and endometriosis). Been in 5 years and now due for replacement. She's not noticed any negative side effects, but everyone's different.

If you have an irregular heart beat I think you're quite entitled to go to casualty while it's irregular and I'm pretty sure you will be seen by a cardiologist there and then. (They may think it's fine and not do anything.)

The advantage of that is you'll have an ECG on record of your Heartbeat playing up. (You can bet your heart will be in perfect sync for the ECG on the 7th!) I think it's also possible for you to ask for a printout to give your GP.

Best thing is dial 111 and tell them your heartbeat is irregular and describe the attendant symptoms (if any) - they'll send to straight to casualty and if it's the wrong thing you can blame them.

(I'm assuming you've felt you own pulse and it's not steady - it's generally doing weird stuff.)

It's very easy not to take it seriously in the early days only to wish you had later. To all practical purposes it's a progressive disease and the more it happens the more it happens.

I am not a doctor.

Thank you. Your post has made me think. So I went on to 111 online, answered lots of questions and they have advised A&E too.

I’m just in the waiting room waiting for triage

How did it go?

Thank you for thinking about me!

They took bloods, ecg and blood pressure. All was clear. The ecg was on for literally 10 seconds. It didn’t show palpitations as I didn’t have any at that moment.

Doc said to keep my ecg appointment next week, but basically sent me home telling me to try to ignore them.

It’s frustrating as I can feel them every 10-15 minutes or so, there’s a flutter of missed beats. But I felt dismissed.

They refused to take the implant out.

Hmmmm, the frustration of getting an ECG while the problem is actually occuring. ☹️

You could buy yourself a Kardia AliveCor (or similar or Apple watch) record and ECG yourself and turn up at the doctors with a printout of your irregular heartbeat in your hand. (About £100)

You could pay for a private doc to take the implant out.

You could trust the NHS and wait to see what happens. Clearly they're not concerned based on what you told them.

Good luck!

Thanks. Yeah, I’m kinda going with option c and trusting the nhs!

I do have bupa care so i might go down that route if nothing comes off it from nhs.

Thanks

Going back to the original question, we're in similar position. Over the years my wife has used the pill and the coil, and we've been using condoms for last few years. A couple of years ago I started getting ED sporadically, fairly mild but can sometimes be an issue when using condoms and/or changing positions.

We've since 'progressed' to starting without and then using condom just for finishing which has worked for us (though wouldn't necessarily recommend for others, especially if younger/more fertile).

We recently used rhythm method though this is likely to remain a one-off for time being as she is a bit wary still. Neither of us mind condoms though as above, I can sometimes lose erection when putting one on.

I did consider the snip and went as far as getting GP referral but got cold feet so we're still using our unusual combination of tried and tested and completely unreliable methods!