WOMEN CAN STILL BECOME PREGNANT IN THEIR LATE 40S AND EVEN INTO THEIR 50S, AND SO CONTRACEPTION SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE USED
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Alternatives to HRT include: • Herbal medicine, such as evening primrose oil or St John’s Wort
• Alternative therapies such as acupressure, acupuncture and homeopathy
• Non-hormonal medical treatments - treatments prescribed by your doctor, such as antidepressants
Contraception for the older woman With divorce rates continuing to rise, many older women are back ‘out there’ on the dating scene. Unfortunately, many think they can stop using contraception once they are in their 40s. Many wrongly assume that, since their fertility is lower and their periods may have become irregular, that contraception can be abandoned.
However, women can still become pregnant in their late 40s and even into their 50s, and so contraception should continue to be used every time they have sex if pregnancy is to be avoided. Among the most popular forms of contraception are:
Barrier methods These methods, which include the male condom and diaphragm and cap help to not only prevent pregnancy, but also sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Hormonal methods The combined pill The combined pill can safely be used until the age of 50, so long as there are no health risks such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure etc that could lead to heart, stroke or blood clotting problems.
The contraceptive patch and vaginal ring The efficacy, benefits, risks and side-effects are similar to the combined pill and again can be safely prescribed until 50 years old to those with no health risks.
The progestogen-only pill (POP or mini-pill) The progestogen-only pill is suitable for older women and can safely be used up until the age of 55.
The contraceptive injection Use of this method may continue until the age of 50. There has been some concern that the injection may reduce bone mineral density and increase the risk of osteoporosis.
Contraceptive implants The implant is suitable until the age of 50 and there are no anxieties about loss of bone mineral density with this method.
Depression Depression is not uncommon in middle-aged women, not least because of its links with menopause. Statistics show that women are almost twice as likely to suffer from depression as men, and, although it is possible for depression to strike at any age, women are more likely to experience it between the ages of 40-59
Symptoms of depression include: • Continuous low mood or sadness • Feelings of hopelessness • Low self-esteem • Uncontrollable tears • Lack of motivation • Weight loss and change in appetite • Unexplained aches and pains • Loss of libido • Irregular menstrual cycle • Insomnia
Luckily, depression is one of the most curable mental health conditions and there are various options available.
These include: conventional medication, lifestyle changes, complementary therapies and dietary changes. Regular exercise can also be beneficial in the treatment of the symptoms of depression since it triggers the release of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine.
DEPRESSION IS NOT UNCOMMON IN MIDDLE- AGED WOMEN, NOT LEAST BECAUSE OF ITS LINKS WITH MENOPAUSE
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