OK, let's ask! Why aren't you smart enough to use birth control in your 40s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Because birth control is unpleasant and I'd rather take my extremely low chances of having another kid versus any kind of contraceptive.

Why aren't you smart enough to understand that we all have our reasons, OP?

Sillybilly.

Not to mention that sex is waaaaay better without birth control pills or condoms. Everything works the way nature intended.

Maybe for you. Birth control pills and the IUD were zero problems for me, and I noticed no difference between that sex and totally birth control-free sex when we were trying to conceive.

It's probably all in your head.

I'm not the PP, but I had a lot of trouble with the iud and BCPs have side effects. Some of those side effects are risky, others, like libido loss are just bothersome. This stuff is well documented. It's not all in her head. You were just lucky.

[Anonymous]

Because it took me 5 years and two IVF cycles to get my son(gave birth at 41). I couldn't imagine being pregnant again at 42 considering everything it took to get my son, and I was high risk and heavily monitored (Under the care of a Peri - with Ultrasounds every three weeks until 32 weeks - then every week PLUS my regular OB appointments - so two Dr visits a week after 32 weeks- good times!!!) That would be pretty difficult to do with a toddler in tow...but if it were to happen, it wouldn't be the end of the World.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Because birth control is unpleasant and I'd rather take my extremely low chances of having another kid versus any kind of contraceptive.

Why aren't you smart enough to understand that we all have our reasons, OP?

Sillybilly.

It's not that OP isn't smart enough to understand the reasons, it's that there has been thread after thread these past few months of women in their 40s posting that they weren't using birth control and might be pregnant, don't want to be pregnant, aren't sure if they want to be pregnant, don't know what to do. Reading about women in their 40s who just neglected to use birth control and are now terminating a pregnancy because they didn't think they could get pregnant at 41 (42, 43, etc.) and already have enough kids is mind-boggling and irritating. I guess I expect better of women in this area.

To the PP who said it couldn't happen to her at 48 . . . yes, the chances are very slim but there was a long thread on pregnancies in the late 40s not that long ago. My own grandmother got pregnant naturally at 47 in what had to have been a one-shot deal.

I agree that it's weird that some women don't seem to realize that they can get pregnant in their early 40's.

I'm 48 and had my tubes tied so I think it's safe to take my chances.

Well, duh. You're sterile now.

Yep, that's true enough and I have been for a while now (mid/late 30's). However, back when I was in my late 30's/early 40's it was always in the back of my head that my tubal could somehow reverse itself and I could wind up pg. That can happen with vasectomies, tubals. But at 48, it's just not on my radar screen at all. I don't think there is ANY risk of that happening now.

Now if I didn't have my tubes tied? Yep, I would still see the need to use BC, even at 48. But I don't know that I would freak that much if I forgot sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it took me 5 years and two IVF cycles to get my son(gave birth at 41). I couldn't imagine being pregnant again at 42 considering everything it took to get my son, and I was high risk and heavily monitored (Under the care of a Peri - with Ultrasounds every three weeks until 32 weeks - then every week PLUS my regular OB appointments - so two Dr visits a week after 32 weeks- good times!!!) That would be pretty difficult to do with a toddler in tow...but if it were to happen, it wouldn't be the end of the World.

I thought similarly and ended up pregnant. ART never worked so we figured our infertility (his and hers- matching set!) was nature's birth control. NO. Our son may be the result of a one-shot wonder, but we take no chances now.

[Anonymous]

Ladies, it's called an

IUD

No hormones (don't get Mirena in your 40s, you are at higher risk for blood clots, etc). Very safe. No hassle.

It's also called

vasectomy

100% no hassle to you, isn't it time DH takes over BC (after probably 20 years of you handling it?!)

Both of these kill 100% of the excuses I've seen on this thread. So what if you don't like condoms or BC pills? There are fucktons of other options, and the two above are PERFECT for women who have completed their child-bearing days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ladies, it's called an

IUD

No hormones (don't get Mirena in your 40s, you are at higher risk for blood clots, etc). Very safe. No hassle.

It's also called

vasectomy

100% no hassle to you, isn't it time DH takes over BC (after probably 20 years of you handling it?!)

Both of these kill 100% of the excuses I've seen on this thread. So what if you don't like condoms or BC pills? There are fucktons of other options, and the two above are PERFECT for women who have completed their child-bearing days.

Not for everybody... check out Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

I agree with the V but my H urologist said that he can't get a V. It's complicated and rare. I also can't take hormones because I had breast cancer.

[Anonymous]

I wish my iud was no hassle!

[Anonymous]

I got pregnant on the pill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ladies, it's called an

IUD

No hormones (don't get Mirena in your 40s, you are at higher risk for blood clots, etc). Very safe. No hassle.

It's also called

vasectomy

100% no hassle to you, isn't it time DH takes over BC (after probably 20 years of you handling it?!)

Both of these kill 100% of the excuses I've seen on this thread. So what if you don't like condoms or BC pills? There are fucktons of other options, and the two above are PERFECT for women who have completed their child-bearing days.

Vasectomies are not 100%. Tubals are more reliable but even those have a failure rate. IUDs - like others said there can absolutely be complications with IUDs.

Maybe a diaphragm?

[Anonymous]

^not that a diaphragm is 100% by any means but it is non-invasive.

[Anonymous]

People in their 40s don't use birth control for the same reasons that teenagers don't---they don't think it will happen to them.

You know...."It's okay just this once, I won't get pregnant because [insert irrational reasoning here]"

[Anonymous]

OMG people, IUDs today are so safe that even women who have not had children yet are using them. The only risk of pelvic inflammatory disease is if you have an active STD when it's inserted. http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/gpr/10/4/gpr100419.html

A lot has changed since we were young and the Dalkon Shield scandal happened. IUDs today do not cause PID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ladies, it's called an

IUD

No hormones (don't get Mirena in your 40s, you are at higher risk for blood clots, etc). Very safe. No hassle.

It's also called

vasectomy

100% no hassle to you, isn't it time DH takes over BC (after probably 20 years of you handling it?!)

Both of these kill 100% of the excuses I've seen on this thread. So what if you don't like condoms or BC pills? There are fucktons of other options, and the two above are PERFECT for women who have completed their child-bearing days.

Not for everybody... check out Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

I agree with the V but my H urologist said that he can't get a V. It's complicated and rare. I also can't take hormones because I had breast cancer.

Unless you have gonorrhea right now, you're not going to get pelvic inflammatory disease from an IUD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People in their 40s don't use birth control for the same reasons that teenagers don't---they don't think it will happen to them.

You know...."It's okay just this once, I won't get pregnant because [insert irrational reasoning here]"

This. So true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People in their 40s don't use birth control for the same reasons that teenagers don't---they don't think it will happen to them.

You know...."It's okay just this once, I won't get pregnant because [insert irrational reasoning here]"

You are so right. This thread is a real eye opener. People never do change!