(BlackDoctor.org) -- Fallen out of love with your birth control? Maybe you're put off by the side effects -- cramps from hell, unpredictable bleeding. Or maybe remembering to pop a pill just isn't your strong suit. Problem is, going without isn't a good choice, even as you get older: Nearly 40 percent of pregnancies among women in their 40s, for instance, are unplanned. The good news is that there are more safe, effective contraception options than ever for women who may be done having children or who are 30-plus. Which one is best for you?
Combo pill: Who can try it?
Almost all women. Surprised? Truth is, a growing body of research debunks some myths surrounding this 99%–effective form of contraception—like the notion that it brings on menopause or ups the risk for some cancers. The Pill can ease maddening perimenopausal symptoms like hot flashes, hormonal mood swings, and irregular bleeding. What’s more, it may help prevent ovarian and uterine cancers.
Who should avoid it?
If you’re a migraine sufferer, you may want to steer clear; the Pill is thought to trigger headaches and raise the risk of stroke in some migraineurs. (Experts aren’t sure why, but the dip in estrogen during the “off week” is one suspect.) And smokers older than 35—that includes the I-only-light-up-when-I-drink crowd—should avoid the Pill, as both estrogen and smoking cause blood to clot more easily.
Progestin-only pill : Who can try it?
Women who are breast-feeding (this oral contraceptive will not lower milk supply), or those who can’t take estrogen-based pills due due to cardiovascular disease or blood-clot risks, or because they smoke. Like the combo type, this “mini-Pill” protects against pregnancy via a low dose of hormones, but it’s estrogen-free.
Note: The progestin-only Pill is slightly less failure-proof than the combo kind...
