The Pill

[scoobydooby]

Why aren't women supposed to take the combined pill after a certain age? I turned 40 within the past few weeks but don't feel any older than I did 20 years ago. I am active, don't smoke, drink very rarely and consider myself to be quite fit. I have periods regularly (probably more regular than at any other time in my life) and if I wanted to have a baby, I'm sure my body would be more than up to it (women are having children later now). I know I don't look my age.

I recently had my GP replaced with a younger woman. I met her for the first time to get a repeat prescription and she chatted away........happily signing the form. .......until she checked my records and saw how old I was. She then changed her mind and told me I couldn't have any more after I'd finished these!!

My body is working the way it's meant to. So why can't I have the combined Pill? Is it just down to individual opinions? Would changing my Dr make any difference?

[888sally888]

I really dont understand that at all. The only thing I thought made it unsafe at 'our age'!! was smokng which yo dont. Seems strange - did she give a reason?

[andrea81]

Might be to do with the fact that at a certain age as a women you might have an increased risk of high blood pressure, which the combined pill is bad for!

Not saying you have high BP, but maybe their going on general trend!

[888sally888]

But I thought the doctor wold have then taken the blood pressure and said it was high. I think Scooby should go back and ask why!

[4getmenot]

It might have something to do with your body changing as well. You may feel young and healthy but that doesnt stop the menopause.

[888sally888]

Oh God I am 44 and feel al washed up now!!

[andrea81]

I didn't say she had a high BP, just that it can increase after a certain age (which is why my mother-in law is now on mini pill). It might be a general rule that they go by even if they don't have a high BP!

[monty0703]

My understanding was that the 'age limit' for the pill was 35. My sister is over this age and still gets it. I thought that it had something to do with an increased risk of thrombosis.

[LoftyLottie]

I am afraid however young and healthy we might feel, the fact is our bodies do change and, in my opinion, the doctor acted properly.

[ethandron]

i believe so too, lottie.
peri-menopause begins any time after 40, and sometimes way before, so there are changes going on that we're not even aware of. and i believe it's the combined pill which is the problem, so it would still be ok to take the mini pill, which is, i think, equally as reliable.

[tickledtrout]

I am 40 in a couple of months, also on the combined pill. I got 12 months supply last week and the doc asked me to consider other options but also said that cos my bp and weight was fine and being a non smoker he wouldn't class me as high risk. He also asked about family medical history

[muppeteer]

i think its to do with a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis.
also maybe as everyone else has said your hormone levels could change & as the pill is hormones you may end up with a beard or an extra boob or something.
i would get a second opinion- maybe nhs direct
there is a good site my doc recommended called patient.co.uk for advice on contraception.