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You wake up in the middle of the night to sweat-soaked sheets, your thoughts are wading through brain fog, and you can't remember the last time your period didn't come as a (heavier-than-ever) surprise. Congratulations! You're going through perimenopause.
Unless you want to add a baby into the mix—or for some reason love your perimenopause symptoms—you might want to consider your contraception options.
During women's late 30s and 40s, they produce less progesterone, and their number and quality of follicles decrease which are the basic units of female reproductive biology. Cycle length and ovulation become irregular, with results ranging from surprise periods to surprise babies, according to [Link Removed], NCMP, and Executive Director of The North American Menopause Society.
Since a woman's [Link Removed] drops after age 30, many women in the throes of perimenopause believe they can't and won't get pregnant. This is not really the case, since less-than-regular cycles make it difficult for women to prevent pregnancy without the use of contraceptives. "Ovulation becomes unpredictable during perimenopause, so it is difficult for a woman to know when she is ovulating and can become pregnant," Gass says.
Besides blocking babies, hormonal contraceptives—including pills, patches, shots, and implants,—can ease the pain of perimenopause. "Continuous hormonal contraceptives can eliminate hot flashes in perimenopausal women," Gass says. "Mood may get better for some, but not all women." Hormonal contraceptives can also reduce [Link Removed].
Be careful, without correct supervision from a doctor, hormonal contraceptives can send you some mixed signals. "Hormonal contraceptives can induce menstrual-like bleeding for years. Generally women have to stop the pills to see if they are in menopause. After she has discontinued the pills for a month or more, she can check her FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) level," Gass says. Follicle-stimulating hormones control your menstrual cycle, your production of eggs, and can reveal whether or not you have entered menopause. Testing FSH a second time one month later will provide a more reliable result.
You should make special considerations when selecting a form of birth control. For example, while it is safe for women who smoke to use oral contraceptives until age 35 (however, we strongly advise against smoking), later the cardiovascular risk associated with birth control pills and smoking exceeds the (normal) risks associated with pregnancy, according to Gass. Hormonal contraception is typically prescribed at a higher dose than hormone replacement therapy, suggesting that hormonal contraception carries a higher risk of blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks. Also, for a woman who is at least 50 years old, having an IUD implanted may not make sense, since the cost and the protection are based on five years of use, Gass says.. Together with your physician you can decide when and if it is best to transition to hormone therapy.
Chances are you've spent 20+ years trying not to get pregnant—and you aren't done yet! If you are in perimenopause, contraception is still an important piece to your health. It can spare you from diaper duty and hot flashes alike. Take control of your body. Talk to your doctor and find hormone happiness today.
Reaching out is IN! Suffering in silence is OUT!
Is it hot in here or is it just you? Get discounts on [Link Removed]. Available now: cooling clothes, a sleek and discrete chargeable fan, a "Hot Flash Havoc" documentary, and a natural menopause relief formula. Enter promo code "ellend" to save serious cash!
Let's hang out! Today, at 5:30pm PST/8:30pm EST, Ellen is hosting one of her Menopause Mondays Google Hangouts: Where the Sisterhood helps the Sisterhood. Tonight's hangout will include women's sexual health expert [Link Removed].
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