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Until What Age Can A Woman Conceive?
Question: I am 53 years old and was just put on the vivelle dot .0375 twice a week along with 100mg of progesterone. I was also taken off birth control. My Dr thinks I guess I'm going or already in menopause. I'm not sure since being on the pill I was having regular perioids. She said not to worry I won't get pregnant. But I am worried. Do I need to take other precautions? Thanks
Brief Answer:
Please provide additional information
Detailed Answer:
1. How long were you on the birth control pills?
2. Before the pills, what were your cycles like?
3. Have there been any labs done that would indicate that you are in menopause?
Dr. Tim
Please provide additional information
Detailed Answer:
1. How long were you on the birth control pills?
2. Before the pills, what were your cycles like?
3. Have there been any labs done that would indicate that you are in menopause?
Dr. Tim
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
1. I've been on the pill since I was 19 years old.
2. before the pill my cycle was not regular. I usually had a period every 2 weeks.
3. no labs have been done to check for menopause or hormone levels.
2. before the pill my cycle was not regular. I usually had a period every 2 weeks.
3. no labs have been done to check for menopause or hormone levels.
Brief Answer:
The chance of pregnancy at age 53 is basically zero
Detailed Answer:
One of the oldest recorded stories of spontaneous conception is a women who conceived at age 57. It is a 'never say never' situation and if you are still having regular cycles, then I guess it is not impossible. But statistically, even by age 45, the chance of conception is already likely less than 1%. So from your question and information, it sounds like you were on birth control to regulate your cycles and to provide birth control. Given your age, you doctor wanted to change you to a lower dose of hormones and this all sounds reasonable.
Menopause is defined as no period for 12 months. If you stopped the birth control pills and, after waiting more than one month, you had what you perceived to be a 'period' then you are not in menopause. Then, the question is whether or not to continue hormones for cycle regulation and the incredibly unlikely chance that you might conceive. I would counsel a patient such as you as follows:
1. It would make sense to get you off of birth control pills because we basically do not really know if continuing them at your age is harmful or not
2. If the issue is regulation of your remaining cycles, then lets choose something that is a lower hormone exposure AND provides some version of birth control
3. A regimen of the vivelle dot and cyclic progesterone will likely control your cycles and menopause related symptoms (as well as protect your uterus from precancerous changes) but it is not really considered birth control
4. If the goal is less hormones AND regulation of your cycle, then a better option would be consideration of a product called the Mirena IUD
5. This is a product that is inserted in the uterus and stops you from cycling (because of the presence of progesterone) and there is almost no absorption of hormones
How does this sound?
Dr. Tim
The chance of pregnancy at age 53 is basically zero
Detailed Answer:
One of the oldest recorded stories of spontaneous conception is a women who conceived at age 57. It is a 'never say never' situation and if you are still having regular cycles, then I guess it is not impossible. But statistically, even by age 45, the chance of conception is already likely less than 1%. So from your question and information, it sounds like you were on birth control to regulate your cycles and to provide birth control. Given your age, you doctor wanted to change you to a lower dose of hormones and this all sounds reasonable.
Menopause is defined as no period for 12 months. If you stopped the birth control pills and, after waiting more than one month, you had what you perceived to be a 'period' then you are not in menopause. Then, the question is whether or not to continue hormones for cycle regulation and the incredibly unlikely chance that you might conceive. I would counsel a patient such as you as follows:
1. It would make sense to get you off of birth control pills because we basically do not really know if continuing them at your age is harmful or not
2. If the issue is regulation of your remaining cycles, then lets choose something that is a lower hormone exposure AND provides some version of birth control
3. A regimen of the vivelle dot and cyclic progesterone will likely control your cycles and menopause related symptoms (as well as protect your uterus from precancerous changes) but it is not really considered birth control
4. If the goal is less hormones AND regulation of your cycle, then a better option would be consideration of a product called the Mirena IUD
5. This is a product that is inserted in the uterus and stops you from cycling (because of the presence of progesterone) and there is almost no absorption of hormones
How does this sound?
Dr. Tim
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Thanks for your reply. It does make me feel somewhat better that hopefully my chances at my age are zero. HA I know I'm not interested in an IUD so I guess I'll try the method she has prescribed for now and see if I have a normal cycle for this next time. I just finished a cycle and now have started the new meds prescribed so I'll see how it goes. Thanks again.
Brief Answer:
You are very welcome
Detailed Answer:
Please let me know if you have additional questions
Dr. Tim
You are very welcome
Detailed Answer:
Please let me know if you have additional questions
Dr. Tim
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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