Health and Medical News

Contraception Options For Women Ages 40, Older Expanding

Health and Medical News - Women's Health & Gynecology
Wednesday, 09 April 2008
Women ages 40 and older have more contraceptive options than in preceding years, during which their contraceptive options were frequently limited to tubal ligation surgery and condoms, the AP/Google.com reports. According to the AP/Google.com, women ages 40 and older are a "complex group" in terms of contraception as some have had several children and are willing to undergo tubal ligation surgery, but others might require children at some point. Such women are the least likely age group to use contraception, contributing to the maximum abortion rate along with adolescents, the AP/Google.com reports. Tubal ligation for women and vasectomies for males stay the most general forms of contraception for women 40 and older. Physicians are increasingly offering a type of nonsurgical tubal ligation called Essure, which was accepted by FDA in 2002. Rather than cutting through the abdomen to cut and tie the fallopian tubes like in traditional tubal ligation surgery, physicians performing the new procedure use a thin tube to thread little devices into the fallopian tubes through the cervix. The devices cause sufficient scarring within about 3 months to prevent eggs from reaching the uterus. The New England Journal of Medicine on March 20 published a report on contraceptives for women older than 40 by Andrew Kaunitz of the University of Florida. In the review, Kaunitz said that although the risk of blood clots increases at age 40 among women taking oral contraceptives that contain estrogen, present oral contraceptives have lower doses of estrogen than before pills and are safe for lean, healthful older women. Some older women might prefer oral contraceptives as they can control irregular menstrual bleeding and hot flashes and have been found to decrease hip fractures and ovarian cancer, Kaunitz -- who has received fees and grants from companies that manufacture oral contraceptives -- said. Experts said that physicians should suggest that older women who are obese, smoke or have migraines, high blood pressure or other risk factors use progestin-only oral contraceptives or intrauterine devices. Although studies have found higher breast cancer rates in older women who take hormone replacement therapy for menopause symptoms, studies have not found an increased risk of breast cancer among women older than 35 who take oral contraceptives. Another contraceptive option for women ages 40 and older is a little plastic rod called Implanon that is located under the skin of the upper arm (Stobbe, AP/Google.com, 4/5). The device, which was accepted by FDA in 2006, releases progesterone, inhibiting pregnancy for up to 3 years or until the device is surgically removed (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/18/06). Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the whole Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for e-mail delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company. © 2007 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.

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