During the menopause, a woman’s fertility slowly but steadily decreases. Getting pregnant is more difficult, but not impossible. Find out how long you should be contraceptive and what you should know about emergency contraception like the morning-after pill.
In the years before and after the last menstrual period, women go through the menopause . During this time, the ovaries produce fewer sex hormones. As a result, ovulation and thus menstrual bleeding become more irregular. The start and duration of menopause can vary from woman to woman. Menopause usually begins in the mid-40s. Around half of all women have their last menstrual period by the age of 52.
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Menopause: how long should I use contraception?
You can only be sure that you will no longer be able to get pregnant a year after your last menstrual period . Then menopause is reached. However, if menstruation stops before the age of 50 , it is recommended to use contraception for up to two more years .
contraception during menopause
- Many women over 40 use hormonal contraception and take birth control pills , which can have a positive effect on menopausal symptoms such as mood swings or hot flashes. However, discuss with your doctor how long and useful hormonal contraception is for you. If you stop taking the hormones, you may stop bleeding for a few months. A hormone test can be used to determine whether you can still become pregnant.
- If you want to use hormone-free contraception, you can use the copper chain or spiral or use condoms, which not only protect against pregnancy but also against sexually transmitted diseases .
Menopause: emergency contraception with the morning-after pill
Even if cycles become more irregular, there is still a chance of getting pregnant. The number of abortions by women over the age of 40 suggests that this is not uncommon: According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 8 percent of the 100,000 procedures in 2020 were performed on women over the age of 40. That’s about 8,000 women.
To avoid an abortion, you can take the morning- after pill after a contraceptive breach . It has been available in pharmacies without a prescription since 2015 and should be taken as soon as possible after intercourse. The morning-after pill prevents pregnancy by postponing ovulation . This can prevent the fertilization of the egg cell and thus pregnancy.
The morning-after pill, which contains levonorgestrel, can be taken up to 72 hours (3 hours) after unprotected sex. The Dach pill, containing the active ingredient ulipristal acetate, can prevent pregnancy up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected intercourse. Talk to a pharmacist to clarify which active ingredient is right for you.
Important: You should only use this type of emergency contraception in exceptional cases and not for regular contraception.
