Although many women complain about the worst of their menopausal symptoms, there are several benefits of entering this next stage of life. For example, you no longer have to deal with menstruation every month, nor do you theoretically risk conceiving every time you are intimate with a partner.
By the time most women hit menopause, they have been done having children for a while, and they have probably been on birth control for years. According to the Guttmacher Institute, the average family size that most couples desire is two children. In order to conceive, carry, and deliver just two children, a woman must rely on contraception for approximately three decades.
No longer having to rely on birth control is one of the greatest benefits of menopause, and it is natural for women to want to stop taking oral contraceptives as soon as they can; however, there are a few facts every woman should know about birth control and menopause first.
If you want to learn more about the relationship between contraception and your reproductive health, turn to Dr. Shakiba at Women’s Pelvic Surgery. Dr. Shakiba is a board-certified uro/gynecologist who stays up-to-date on all the latest advancements in his field.
He helps patients manage everything from endometriosis to infertility, and he can help you combat the symptoms of menopause. Call 201-301-2772 to make an appointment and discuss your reproductive health concerns.
Should You Continue Taking Birth Control During Menopause?
There are both advantages and drawbacks of taking birth control during menopause. Every woman experiences menopause differently, but in general, the pros of continuing with oral contraception outweigh the cons.
The only real drawback of taking birth control around the time you might go through menopause is the fact that it could mask the symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. Oral contraceptives have no bearing on when you will go through menopause, but they can affect how severe the symptoms are once you actually do.
If the symptoms are so mild that they are essentially nonexistent, a woman may not even know she has gone through menopause. Of course, many consider this an advantage rather than a drawback.
Oral contraceptives can reduce all kinds of perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, including irregular periods, heavy bleeding, night sweats, and hot flashes. Additionally, those who are perimenopausal can still technically get pregnant. Until you have gone 12 consecutive months without menstruating, you are likely still ovulating and thus could theoretically conceive during intercourse.
According to Healthy Women, there are also several health benefits of the long-term use of oral contraceptives. These include a reduced risk of ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, fibroids, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Some of the risks associated with birth control pills increase with age, though, especially if you smoke, so it is important to talk to your gynecologist about all your options for alleviating menopausal symptoms.
Although some women only experience mild symptoms when they go through menopause, others can have side effects that are downright debilitating. If you believe you have entered perimenopause or menopause and the symptoms are affecting your everyday life, turn to Women’s Pelvic Surgery. Call 201-301-2772 to make an appointment today!
