Birth Control Choices for Women 35 and Older

Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
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It used to be that most women were finished having children by age 35. Not anymore. Many women are delaying having children longer than they used to. For this reason, many women in this age group are exploring their birth control options for family planning. If you’re a woman 35 or older, what’s the right birth control method for you?


Risk Factors for Birth Control After 35

The main concern for women 35 and older has had to do with birth control pills. For decades, studies showed that birth control pills were risky for women of that age. The belief was that these pills raise the risk of cancer, stroke, and heart disease as women grow older. There is evidence that the risks of breast, cervical, and liver cancer appear to be slightly increased in women using oral contraceptives.

However, given the current research, common birth control pills are thought to be safe in women into their 50s. There are a few exceptions. You might not want to choose birth control pills if you smoke or have a history of certain cancers or blood clots. Otherwise, modern birth control pills seem quite safe. Women older than 35 can choose this birth control method with few worries about health risks.

Any concerns about other birth control options have nothing to do with age. The reality today, then, is that birth control choices for women older than 35 are about the same as for those younger than 35. One possible difference is that older women may be more certain about being finished with having children. That means they might be more likely to choose a permanent type of birth control rather than a temporary method.

What Are Temporary Birth Control Choices?

You can choose from several temporary methods of birth control. These include:

  • Barriers: These include sponges, diaphragms, and male or female condoms.

  • Birth control pills: The pill, as it's called, is now considered safe for most women older than 35. Those who shouldn't use this option are women who smoke, have a history of blood clots, or have a family history of heart disease or cancer.

  • Rings or patches: You use these hormone-based products for three weeks at a time. You remove the device the week of your period and replace it with a new one. You can put the patch on several areas of your body. The ring is inserted in the vagina.

  • Injections: For this type of birth control, you get a shot of the female hormone progestin every three months. However, you should not use this method for more than two years in a row. That's because it can decrease bone density over time. This makes it not the best choice for older women.

  • Implantable devices: You have a procedure to put this device (that can contain hormones) into your body. Implantable devices can prevent pregnancy for several years.

What About More Permanent Methods?

After age 35, most women decide at some point that they're finished having children. You then could choose a permanent method of birth control. These include:

  • Surgical sterilization (tubal ligation): This procedure involves cutting and sealing the fallopian tubes. This prevents eggs from traveling to the uterus.

  • Nonsurgical option: A spring-like device that blocks the fallopian tubes is implanted in your body. Scar tissue forms around the spring to block the passage of eggs.

  • Vasectomy: This would be a procedure for your male partner. It prevents pregnancy by blocking sperm from entering his ejaculate.
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  1. Contraception Options for Women over 40. National Women’s Health Resource Center. http://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/contraception-options-women-over-40?context=healthcenter...
  2. Stenchever MA. Risks of oral contraceptive use in women over 35. J Reprod Med. 1993 Dec;38(12 Suppl):1030-5.
  3. Seibert C, et al. Prescribing Contraceptives for Women over 35 Years of Age. Am Fam Physician. 2003 Aug 1;68(3):547-548.
  4. Birth control methods fact sheet. Office on Women’s Health. http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/birth-control-methods.html
  5. Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk. National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet

Medical Reviewer: William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Last Review Date: 2020 Feb 5
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