How to Choose Birth Control as a Senior

Think that once you're over 40 your birth control options are limited to condoms and sterilization? Think again! While either of those could be the right choice for you, there are other options to consider once you get your doctor's Ok.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A health professional
• More information on different options
• A frank discussion with your partner

1. Your first stop should be at your health professional's office. Before you can have an accurate picture of the different birth control options available to you, you need to know some things about your general health. How is your blood pressure? Are you overweight? Do you have any other risk factors? Your doctor can also be a great resource for information about contraception options. Don't feel comfortable talking with your physician about something so personal? Well, than it just may be time for a new physician. You should feel absolutely at ease discussing personal matters like this--relax and remember that your doctor is here to help.

2. Now, it's time to take a look at your lifestyle. Do you have one partner or many? How well do you know your partner? If either you or your partner are not monogamous, it's important that you protect yourself against sexually-transmitted diseases. Remember, just because someone "looks clean" doesn't mean that he or she isn't carrying a disease or infection, and some STD's can raise your risk of certain reproductive cancers later in life. Whether or not you choose to use a backup method, condoms should be your first line of defense against STD's.Don't worry that condoms will take away from the mood--there is such a variety of condoms out there that you're sure to find one that works for you. Why not try a pleasure-enhancing condom with bumps, ridges, or tingling lubricant? Condoms can be loads of fun if you let them!

3. If you and your partner are monogamous, it's time to sit down with him or her for a frank discussion. Although many people may traditionally think of contraception as the "woman's problem", today we know that both partners need to be equally involved and at ease with the birth control choice being made.Do you value spontaneity? Or is it important that you stay away from hormonal methods? Is cost an issue? How do you feel about surgery?

4. What about hormonal birth control? If you are in good health, you may be able to consider some hormonal options such as oral contraception and IUD's. For many people, either low-estrogen or progestin-only birth control pills can be a viable option even after the age of 40. In fact, low-estrogen pills can help some women with menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms, and may even reduce the chances of hip fractures and ovarian cancer.IUD's, on the other hand, are placed directly into the uterus and therefore can be a good choice for some women into their 40's and much later.

5. 
   Condoms come in a variety of colors!

   Don't discount barrier methods, either! If you want to take a step beyond condoms, or if you and your partner are monogamous and you feel comfortable going without, there are some barrier methods you might want to take a look at. These options require insertion before sex, so be sure you feel comfortable with touching yourself in this way every time before you choose a barrier method.The sponge has recently reappeared on the market, and is easily available at your local drugstore without a prescription. The sponge prevents pregnancy by resting over your cervix and holding spermicide in place. As long as you have no sensitivities to the spermicide nonoxynol-9, you might want to give it a try!Want something a bit more permanent than the sponge? Talk to your health professional about cervical caps or diaphragms, which work in the same way. Both are fitted to your body and require an office visit. You also must be aware that with substantial weight loss or gain, you'll need to be fitted for a new cervical cap or diaphragm.

6. If you think it's time to be done with having to think about birth control at all, sterilization might be the choice for you. Both surgical and nonsurgical sterilization are available these days, and sterilization (of either partner) is still the most common contraception choice for women over 40.Discuss tubal ligation and vasectomy with your health professional. Some gynecologists are offering a nonsurgical sterilization procedure called Essure, in which a thin tube is used to place devices in the fallopian tubes. The scarring that results prevents pregnancy from occurring by keeping the ovaries from reaching the uterus.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep an open mind and don't be afraid to experiment.
• Communicate clearly and assertively with your partner and health professionals.
• Have fun--sex is fun!
• Be sure you are protecting yourself against STD's.
• Talk to your health professional about anything that worries you.

Resources

• Planned Parenthood

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[layali]

on 8/15/2008 Hi,
My name is layali, I'm from Bahrain, I was searching in the web for the best birth control that I can use it, and I saw this site it very interesting, I want to ask the best what can I use before I was using the pills, but it affect on me I was always angry and always fighting with my family, then I get pregnant and I delivered 2 healthy baby boys, now again I'm want to use birth control and I've heard about Cervical Cap, but I don’t how to use it and is it save.

Pls I need instruction with pictures how to use it safely, kindly if any one can help me in this matter send an email with the instructions and picture to my email address:[e-mail]

Thanks in advance.

Layali