Coming off pill at 42 - what next?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Got told off by GP yesterday for still being on the pill at my age. She wants me to have a coil or implant.

I have been on the same pill since I was 18 except for pregnancies. Every time I tried another pill it made me throw up. If they put something hormonal in me and it makes me throw up I'm so worried I'll be stuck with it!

Also worried about controlling my periods (I'm a teacher in a school with 100 minute lessons) as I had bad periods before. Also worried about heading into peri-menopause.

What did you do in this situation please and did it work out OK?

Thanks!

You can stay on the combined pill until age 50 as long as you arent overweight, your blood pressure is normal and you don't smoke

Do you have any of these risk factors?

www.guidelinesinpractice.co.uk/womens-health/contraception-for-women-aged-over-40-what-when-and-for-how-long/453901.article

No none of those. I went in yesterday as my heart rate had been high for 18 hours and I get fairly regular palpitations. Blood pressure was fine but she said being on the pill at my age is a huge risk factor for blood clots.

Now I'm confused!

I had the coil which does not have hormones in it but it did make my periods heavier.
They can take coils out if one makes you sick.

Is that the copper one?

I took the mini pill for a few years and it stopped my periods. I then had the mirena coil (with Hormones) and it also stopped my periods.

I got the Cooper coil at age 40 as told I could no longer have the pill.

I was told at age 39 I should think about changing to the implant. As I was a little heavier than I should be.... I did. For me it was the worst thing ever. I had horrible mood swings, anxiety and worst of all I bled every 2 weeks.
Fast forward 2 years. I've had it removed. I was all set to have the coil fitted at the family planning clinic when I was told by the doctor there that actually I could stay on the pill until I'm 50. She's given the pill to women much heavier and everyone's risk of clots increase with age naturally and as long as I didn't have a family history I'd be no more at risk than anyone else.
So, I'm back on the combined pill. I was going to take it continuously without the 7 day break but actually I don't mind having the withdrawal bleed and find it quite reassuring.

This is obviously what I was told, but if you don't want to change your method of contraception it's worth talking to someone from family planning.

I'm mid 40s and changed to mini pill, no periods not much side effects so will stay on that until 50.... dont be pushed into anything , read about each pill

I was on the pill past 50 (the GP didn't clock my age, I didn't realise it might be an issue). She'd had some blood tests done for me before prescribing the particular one I was on (Marvelon, it also helped control acne) to check if I was likely to be susceptible to blot clots.

I'm 52 and have been on the mini pill for the past 4 or 5 years (previously combined pill) with no issues.

Mini pill too. 3yrs now, had some breakthrough bleeds in first Yr but settled down now, will stay on it. Didn't fancy the coil which was the other choice I had.

Copper coil?
I'm not keen on hormonal contraceptives and so this is the only way to go for me! Bleeding is v heavy but something I just have to deal with.

I'm 41, & after having DS in 2018 made the decision not to go back on the pill (didn't like the affect it had on my emotions etc). DH & I talked & he offered to get a vasectomy, so that pregnancy risk was off the cards as we didn't want anymore children.
Maybe allow your body to adjust to no artificial hormones & see how it is? You might find your periods aren't as bad they used to be?

I don’t react well to hormones, post 45 I’ve found that no contraception and celibacy is working out rather well for me!

I’m 46 and just on my second Mirena. It’s been fantastic for me. No periods (and they had become very very heavy before my first coil, to the point where I couldn’t leave the house on day 2/3).

I'm another who came off the pill due to being overweight

Then I was told it was okay

The pill really helps me in a few ways so I'm happy with it, at 45.

Is it possible you got one of those docs who likes to go on about the implant? Seems to be a thing.

I’ve just come off the POP as I was getting heavy breakthrough bleeding. I’m now getting heavy periods every 17 days GP has said I’m probably peri menopausal and given me some painkillers!! I’m 46.

I don’t want an IUD at all, don’t need contraception as DH has had a vasectomy but the POP was to control painful heavy periods (I have fibromyalgia too and it kills me). Basically I don’t want them at all. Can’t have the combined pill anymore as I suffer from chronic hemiplegic migraines and am at increased risk of stroke apparently even though I’m not overweight and a non-smoker.

After DC I went for the implant. Now on 4th and I love it - very rarely have a period and don't have to remember anything except a reminder in my phone to change it every 3 years. Now 49 so might be my last one...