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We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Pregnancy After Health Considerations. Lifestyle Considerations. Common Causes of Birth Control Failure. Does the Pill Cause Cancer? How Estrogen Affects a Woman's Heart. Best Options for Hormone Replacement Therapy. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.
Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. Can Birth Control Cause Depression? Many women wonder whether they should continue to take birth control pills or if they should stop at a certain age.
Birth control pills are a common form of contraception, of course. Many women take birth control pills to better manage their periods.
Birth control pills can be useful for women who have:. There could be several explanations as to why you may need to take birth control pills long-term, even up until menopause. Many of the short-term risks of birth control pills in women older than 35 are the same as the risks in women under Examples include side effects like nausea, vomiting, weight gain, decreased libido, and breast tenderness.
Most women are safe taking birth control pills up until menopause. With that being said, the process of aging inherently has its own risks. Even if you were healthy as a younger woman, you could develop a blood clotting disorder or uncontrolled high blood pressure over time.
If you do develop either of these conditions, you and your doctor might decide that birth control pills are no longer a safe option. Likewise, women over age 35 who smoke have an even higher risk of complications with birth control. Both birth control pills and smoking can increase the risk of heart disease, blood clots, and certain cancers. A big question that many women have as they get older is at what age should you stop taking birth control pills? Developed as a daily contraceptive, birth control pills work by changing the hormone levels within the body in order to prevent the process of ovulation.
Birth control pills contain estrogen and progesterone usually a mix of the two and these are the female sex hormones that regulate ovulation as well as other reproductive processes. As mentioned, the pills work to prevent the release of an egg, but they can also help in two other ways as well. The first way is that the hormones solidify the mucus that surrounds the cervix, which makes it a challenge for sperm to enter the uterus where an egg may have been released to if the first prevention step fails.
The other way that birth control pills prevent pregnancy is by changing the lining of the uterus, which makes it more difficult for an egg to attach if released. These three preventative measures work in conjunction to make birth control pills nearly percent effective at preventing unwanted pregnancy if used correctly. The choices for birth control pills include the combination dose and the mini pill. Combination pills contain both estrogen and progestogen hormones.
This type is given in a day cycle pack, where 21 of the pills contain the hormones to prevent pregnancy, and 7 pills are placebo pills. The estrogen helps keep your ovaries from releasing an egg into your fallopian tube , which is where it can become fertilized by a sperm, or to shed along with the lining of your uterus during your next period.
For most healthy people, birth control pills are safe for long-term use. There are exceptions, of course. Not everyone has the same experience with birth control pills. Progestin-only pills are appropriate for all nonsmokers. However, when it comes to those who smoke, the pills are only appropriate for those under Once you reach 35, discuss birth control options with your healthcare provider.
Progestin-only pills may no longer be the best choice for you. If you smoke, you must find another method of birth control to lower your risk for complications. Combination pills are generally safe for nonsmokers of any age.
But those who smoke should avoid combination pills regardless of age. Estrogen increases the risk of blood clots. As a long-term birth control method, birth control pills require consistent use. Take your birth control pills exactly as prescribed.
Using them for a few months, stopping for a month or two, and then starting to use them again raises your risk for an unplanned pregnancy. Take two the next day when you remember. However, this does raise your risk for accidental pregnancy.
If you find yourself forgetting to take your pill every day, it may not be the right birth control method for you. Use condoms along with the pill. Buy now: Shop for condoms. During the first few months of using birth control pills, you may have some minor bleeding between periods. This is called breakthrough bleeding.
It typically stops on its own, but report it to your healthcare provider if it happens, along with any other side effects. Taking birth control pills may lead to breast tenderness and nausea for some people. You may be able to reduce these side effects by taking your pill before bedtime.
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