Do I Need to Be on Birth Control During Menopause?

Looking for the cheat-sheet guide to menopause?

It doesn’t exist, unfortunately.

With every woman who goes through menopause experiencing something different to the next, no one pathway can be guaranteed. Individual experiences not only require individual treatments, but also a careful consideration of their overall lifestyle and health needs, identifying what needs to be managed within this constantly changing season.

This is no more obvious than in the area of birth control and menopause. While it may seem like menopause, by nature, means there’s no longer a risk of pregnancy, the constant shifts that come with it means there’s nothing certain about when, exactly, you’re likely to reach the end of your fertility. As some forms of birth control can also help women remain safe from STDs and manage their hormones, the answer to whether or not birth control is necessary during menopause is entirely dependent on your individual health needs, sexual habits, and management approach. 

While we can’t give you a yes-or-no answer, we can equip you with key insights across the factors that need to be assessed when it comes to birth control and menopause.

First things first: keeping your hormones in check

Perhaps you’re in the group of women who have been on hormonal birth control for years, simply because it’s able to help you in regulating your hormonal cycles. Birth control forms such as the pill, the patch, or the ring can all serve the purpose of regulating menstrual cycles, helping to reduce the impact of menstrual cramps, and minimising the impact of perimenopausal symptoms. If this is you, you may find that hormonal birth control continues to play an important role throughout your menopausal transition.

The role of birth control in preventing pregnancy

Your fertile years are behind you, right, once menopause begins for you?

Not always.

While your fertility does decline with age, it doesn’t simply disappear overnight. Until menopause itself has been officially reached – which is marked by 12 consecutive months without a period – there’s still a chance (even if it’s slim) of falling pregnant. For women who are sexually active and not interested in pregnancy, remaining on birth control is just as important a consideration as it was in their earlier years as they make their way through perimenopause.

Confused about what your body needs throughout each stage of your menopausal transition? Find expert-led care and compassion at the Australian Menopause Centre.

What about the health benefits of birth control?

Alongside the important jobs of keeping menopausal symptoms in check and unexpected pregnancies off the table, hormonal birth control can offer other non-negotiable health benefits. In some instances, hormonal birth control can even reduce the risk of certain cancers developing, helping to keep women safe and protected for the long term. 

This birth control method can also help to support higher levels of bone density, which is particularly important for menopausal women as declining oestrogen levels contribute to the risk of osteoporosis. 

Alternative forms of birth control

While it may not be at the top of your enjoyment list to discuss birth control with your doctor, this is not the time to turn to the internet for expert advice. It’s important to cultivate a relationship with your healthcare practitioner that’s open, supportive, and considerate of the holistic picture of your health and wellbeing. Working with your trusted healthcare provider is the best way to find suitable birth control for your needs, taking into account your menopausal status, health history, hormonal fluctuations, existing medications, and sexual lifestyle needs.

Moving in harmony with your body

If you’ve ever moved to a new form of birth control, only to be met with disappointing results, you’ll know just how important it is to work in rhythm with your body. It’s already experiencing so many menopausal-related changes that any changes to hormonal birth control methods need to be carefully managed alongside your evolving health needs. 

You may also find that this is a moment where hormonal birth control is introduced into your care plan, even if you’ve never used it before. With the ability to support perimenopausal hormone fluctuations, it’s important to be open-minded to the role birth control can play in your ongoing menopausal journey. 

Of course, the fact that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all conversation means that you may need to embrace a trial-and-error stage in this transition. Take careful notes of how your body responds to any changes in birth control, speaking openly with your healthcare team to assess these changes and alter your birth control methods appropriately. Your sexual health, physical health, and mental health are too important to compromise throughout these inevitable transitions.

Key takeaways and considerations

Is birth control for you during menopause? This personal decision, depending on a wide variety of factors, is just one of the areas where you’ll need to advocate for yourself throughout your menopausal journey.

At the Australian Menopause Centre, we commonly hear from women that they experience a sense of isolation when it comes to the intricacies of their healthcare needs throughout menopause. Birth control is one of those topics that may not be openly discussed between friends and family members, with some women carrying discomfort when it comes to raising concerns with healthcare practitioners. 

By paying close attention to your changing body, you can take a proactive approach to having necessary conversations and making decisions that keep your ongoing health needs firmly at the centre. Take it one step at a time, draw on expert guidance, and listen to what your body’s telling you – it’s the best way to move through everything menopause will bring.

Conclusion

In the whirlwind of menopause-related health information, it can be difficult to assess what’s fact and what’s fiction. This is no more important than in the area of whether or not birth control is necessary for you during this time. To find an expert team of healthcare practitioners who care about your every menopausal need, reach out to the welcoming team at the Australian Menopause Centre.