At What Age Should You Stop Taking Birth Control

birth control
If you don't want to get significant, you should be taking nascence control up until menopause

If y'all don't want to get pregnant, it'southward important to utilise birth control every bit a safe and constructive way to avoid an unplanned pregnancy. But at what age do y'all need to stop?

You should exist taking birth command up until menopause (when menstruation has stopped for at least 12 consecutive months). Just since each woman is unlike and the age range for reaching natural menopause is broad, there'south no i historic period that's right for all women to stop nascency control.

When does menopause beginning?

Menopause typically occurs between ages twoscore-58, and the boilerplate menopausal historic period for women in the U.S. is 51. For some women, however, menopause can happen outside that range.

If you're in your 20s it's unlikely that you are in menopause even if you oasis't had a period in 12 months (it's probable due to some other reason).

But if yous're in your mid-40s or older and haven't had a flow in 12 months, you are quite probable in menopause.

Although fertility starts failing around the historic period of forty, a woman can get pregnant at whatever time up until menopause.

How do you lot know when you have reached menopause?

While at that place'southward no definitive examination that tin confirm menopause, your gynecologist tin can help you determine whether y'all are virtually menopause past reviewing your symptoms along with your medical and menstrual history.

With irresolute levels of hormones during perimenopause, you may experience symptoms such as:

Heavy and irregular periods
Hot flashes
Vaginal dryness
Slumber disturbances
Mood swings

If you lot accept been on non-hormonal birth control, menopause is highly likely if y'all are around 50 and haven't had a period for 12 sequent months.

However, it can be difficult to determine whether you accept reached menopause if you are on birth control pills. That's because while birth command pills cease ovulation, you may have regular or occasional periods, or non at all, depending on other factors.

One way to notice out if you are menopausal is to stop taking birth control pills later you reach historic period 50. Use a non-hormonal birth control method and encounter if yous stop having periods for 12 consecutive months.

Another option may be to stay on the pill until historic period 54. At this historic period, 90% of women have undergone menopause.

Either way, you should talk to your doctor almost what you programme to do.

QUESTION

Which of the following are methods for contraception?
Encounter Answer

What are nascence control options for women over 40?

Afterward the historic period of 40, the same nascency control methods you lot used when you lot were in your 20s and 30s may non exist your best options anymore, depending on changes in your health. Notwithstanding, if you lot are good for you and don't smoke, you may be able to continue using the same method you've relied on in the past. Information technology'southward best to review your contraceptive options with your doctor.

If yous are perimenopausal, you should avert trying to use natural birth control methods such as tracking ovulation and periodic abstinence, because during this time your periods may be irregular and your ovulation unpredictable.

Birth control options for women over twoscore include:

Barrier method

Barrier methods of birth command involve the apply of concrete barriers to cake sperm. Different types of barriers include male person or female condoms, diaphragms and spermicides. Condoms also provide some protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

Hormonal methods

Hormonal methods of contraception involve taking hormones on a regular footing and are a safe and reliable way to prevent pregnancy for many people. Hormonal birth control options use a combination of the ii female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone (progestogen). The synthetic form of progesterone is known as progestin.

Hormonal contraceptive options include:

Combined oral contraceptive (COC) pills with estrogen and progestogen
Progestogen-only mini-pills
3-calendar month combined or progestin-only injections
Progestin-only implants nether the skin
Vaginal rings inserted into the vagina which release a daily measured hormone dose, like to COC pills
Skin patches applied on the skin, which work similarly to COC

Intrauterine devices

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are placed inside the uterus and are a long-term option that tin can last several years. Options include:

Copper IUDs which creates a hostile environs for the sperm
IUDs with levonorgestrel, a progestin

Permanent nascency control

Permanent nascence control through male person or female person sterilization may be an choice for some. Surgical procedures include:

Tubal ligation or occlusion, in which the woman'southward fallopian tubes are tied or blocked then the sperm tin can't get into them.
Vasectomy, in which the homo'south vas deferens (sperm-carrying duct) is severed and sealed.

Emergency contraception

Emergency oral pills tin can be taken at any age, and as early on as possible after unprotected vaginal intercourse or failure of contraceptive methods. IUDs inserted up to seven days afterward intercourse are likewise an effective form of emergency contraception.

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Are nascency control pills safe after historic period 40?

Combined birth control pills are rubber for use for most healthy, non-smoking women until historic period l. Progestogen-only nativity command can be safely used until age 55, although women who take had chest cancer normally cannot take them.

Estrogen-based contraception should be stopped at the following ages:

50 for good for you, non-smoking women with no medical problems
40 for women with cardiovascular illness or history of stroke or migraine
35 for women who are smokers

In add-on to preventing pregnancy, birth control pills may exist used to brand menstrual cycles more than regular and relieve perimenopausal symptoms such equally heavy bleeding and hot flashes. Birth command pills can also aid maintain bone forcefulness and reduce the adventure of ovarian and uterine cancers.

Can hormone replacement therapy be used every bit nativity control?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) uses very low doses of hormones and cannot replace birth control.

If you have non reached menopause earlier starting HRT, you will need nativity control until y'all are 55. An intrauterine arrangement with levonorgestrel, which can also provide the progestin part of the HRT, may be a suitable option if you are on HRT and notwithstanding demand contraception.