Review Of Contraceptive Options For Women Over 40

news headlines

email to a friend

printer friendly

Review Of Contraceptive Options For Women Over 40

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 06 Mar 2013

Despite declining fertility, women over age 40 still require effective contraception if they wish to avoid pregnancy. A review article outlines the risks and benefits of various contraceptive options for these women. The article, based on current evidence and published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), is aimed at helping physicians find the best methods for their patients.

The benefits of use outweigh the risks for most contraceptive methods used by women over 40. Even for women with risk factors for complications, methods are available that can be safely used to prevent unintended pregnancy. Several methods are considered "top-tier" by the World Health Organization, including copper IUDs, progestin implants and sterilization.

Contraceptives containing estrogen should be used with caution in women over 40 who have cardiovascular risk factors, because of the increased risk of blood clots. Although some patients are concerned about an increased risk of cancer, studies have not shown a negative link between oral contraceptive use and cancer. Use of oral contraceptives is associated with a reduced risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer.

In addition to preventing pregnancy, oral contraceptives can have some additional noncontraceptive benefits for women over age 40 years, such as alleviating heavy menstrual bleeding and diminishing hot flashes in perimenopausal women.

Condoms and diaphragms may also be effective, because failure rates are lower among older women than among younger women.

"Clinical judgment will be required to balance the risks and benefits when a woman has multiple medical conditions," writes Dr. Rebecca Allen, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, US. "The availability of safe, effective options suggests that estrogen-containing methods should increasingly be used with caution in older women who have cardiovascular risk factors."

Original article posted on Medical News Today.
Articles not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Medical News Today publishes the latest health news and health videos for consumers and health professionals. It has a searchable archive of over 100,000 health news articles.

< back to medical news

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Send your press releases to