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Contraception in the Perimenopause

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Contraception for the Medically Challenging Patient

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Abstract

Perimenopause is the time period in a woman’s reproductive life just prior to the complete cessation of menses. During this time women can experience a variety of symptoms that result from changes in both pituitary and sex steroids. The symptoms commonly noted include menstrual changes, vasomotor symptoms, as well as atrophic conditions including atrophic vaginitis and urinary complaints. During this time, women remain at risk for pregnancy; therefore, contraception use and counseling in this population are very important. In addition to pregnancy prevention, hormonal contraception can provide symptom relief as well as offer many noncontraceptive benefits to this population. As in younger women, several options for contraceptives exist, including intrauterine devices, sterilization, combined hormonal contraceptives, implants, progestin-only contraceptives, and barrier methods. The effectiveness, risk, and contraindications of these methods can be different in perimenopausal women compared to younger women.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, West Chester, OH, USA

    Julie M. Sroga M.D. & Michael A. Thomas M.D.

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  1. Julie M. Sroga M.D.
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  2. Michael A. Thomas M.D.
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Correspondence to Michael A. Thomas M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

    Rebecca H. Allen

  2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Carrie A. Cwiak

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Sroga, J.M., Thomas, M.A. (2014). Contraception in the Perimenopause. In: Allen, R., Cwiak, C. (eds) Contraception for the Medically Challenging Patient. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1233-9_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1233-9_19

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