Depending on your unique situation and reproductive objectives, you may need to utilise birth control while going through menopause. Women can still get pregnant up until menopause, despite the fact that menopause is typically linked to a natural fall in fertility.

Factors to consider
Perimenopause: The transitional period before menopause, the perimenopause, is when hormonal changes can cause irregular menstruation periods. Women can still ovulate and become pregnant during this period. It’s crucial to utilise contraception up until you have gone 12 months without a period if you are over the age of 50, but two years if you are under the age of 50 and don’t want to get pregnant while going through perimenopause.

Postmenopause: Contraception can be abandoned two years after the last period if it occurs below the age of 50, or one year over the age of 50. Where there is uncertainty, women are assumed sterile at the age of 55. A Mirena coil can be a good option for providing the progestogen arm of HRT as well as contraception when needed.

Birth Control with Hormone Replacement Therapy: It’s crucial to talk about contraception with your healthcare practitioner if you’re undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to control menopausal symptoms. Your HRT programme may or may not offer effective contraception depending on the type and dose of hormones used. It may occasionally still be required to use extra birth control measures to prevent pregnancy.

Considerations for Contraception: When selecting a contraceptive technique during menopause, it’s vital to take your general health, any current medical conditions, potential drug interactions, and personal preferences into account. You may want to talk with your doctor about hormonal contraceptives like birth control pills, patches, or injections, barrier techniques like condoms, or intrauterine devices (IUDs).