birth control options when your over 35

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2004
birth control options when your over 35
2
Tue, 11-02-2004 - 6:30pm
Does anyone have any feedback or suggestions????

I'm over 35...and yup a smoker...I know that the pill is not an option for me...and I recently had an oops moment...where the condom broke...and now I'm quite worried about condoms. I use them for birth control as opposed to safe sex .... I'm with a partner I'm not worried about that...so any insight out there for me??? thanks...eleda
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 11-02-2004 - 9:12pm
Hi eleda_ran, welcome!

You might want to consider an IUD. IUDs are very effective, low maintenance and long lasting. A Mirena http://www.mirena-us.com/ which releases a tiny bit of progestin is effective for 5 years and a ParaGard (Copper-T) http://www.paragard.com/ is hormone free and is effective for 8-10 years. If you're interested in knowing more about IUDs there is a very good post about them in the FAQs. There are also cervical barriers (diaphragms and cervical caps) which are less effective than IUDs and take discipline to use correctly and consistently. There is a post about barriers in the FAQs as well. I hope you find a method that will work well for you. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 11-03-2004 - 6:10am
If you want to improve your condom success (in the meantime while you figure out what to do), make sure of:

1. The condom has not expired (yes there's an expiration date on each condom package)

2. You're storing your condoms in a dark cool place--latex will deteriorate from exposure to heat and UV radiation.

3. Be extremely careful when putting it on so as not to nick it with a fingernail or tear it with the package

4. Don't be afraid to use a lubricant! A lot of tears can be produced simply by too much friction and keeping an artificial water-based lubricant on hand can help out a lot. If you want, you can just use an additional spermicide like Conceptrol or Gynol that would not only get the escapees but act as a lubricant (though they're not labeled as such).

Good luck!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control