Fertility during menopause
During menopause , fertility declines, resulting in a woman no longer being fertile at the end of menopause. This process, in which fertility changes, can last several years and has several phases . At the beginning (premenopause) of menopause, a woman may still menstruate . This means she is fertile and can, in fact, become pregnant, although the chance of this is small. In the period afterward, menstruation decreases, and with it, fertility during menopause.
Hormonal change
Moreover, hormonal changes significantly impact menopause and therefore fertility. When the number of eggs in a woman's ovaries decreases, the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone also decrease. These hormonal changes can lead to symptoms associated with menopause.
Menopause and the pill (contraception)
Because fertility declines during menopause, many women wonder how and until when they should use the pill or other contraceptives. In this regard, it's important to know whether the contraceptives contain hormones, and if so, which ones. Estrogen is a hormone that predicts a regular menstrual cycle . Furthermore, progestogen suppresses pregnancy and therefore protects against it. The combination of both hormones suppresses the natural menstrual cycle, which can prevent pregnancy. The pill is a contraceptive that contains both hormones.
Advice on menopause and the pill (contraception)
During menopause, it's possible to continue using the pill or other contraceptives that contain both estrogen and progestin. However, a contraceptive that contains both hormones, such as the pill, is not recommended after the age of 50. This is due to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease at that age. If women wish to continue using contraception after the age of 50, progestin-only contraceptives are recommended. Examples include a hormonal IUD, an implant, a condom, a copper IUD, and a diaphragm.
Do you want to stop taking the pill or other contraceptive during menopause? We always recommend discussing this with your doctor for the best advice.
