QuestionI am 53yrs old and I am sure I no longer need contraception but am told I
have to be 12months period free first. My last period was 3 months ago. I
have been having episodes of hot flushes on an off. I conceived my children
very easily and was always aware of my fertile periods, mucous, pain etc and
always regular periods until a year ago. My ovulation symptoms stopped
about 2 years ago. I know the stats.. 0-5% risk after age 50 and don't want
to be one of those. Have been using diaphraghm but hate inserting and
removing it, and condoms are problematic to my partner, although he will use
them. My question is I have absolutely no signs of ovulation...can an egg be
released without those signs? I did use Natural Family Planning for a time in
my mid 30's and understand how it works (forgotton a bit of it
though...memory not as great as it used to be....damn hormones!)
AnswerWhat signs of ovulation are you referring to? Some of them are somewhat subjective but others are objective, such as the mucus and cervical signs. The one I used and understand the best is the temperature sign.
I recommend that you start taking your temperature every morning and chart it. If there is not temperature spike of .4 degree that is sustained until your period starts then there is no ovulation. As long as your temperature is consistently low, there is no mucus, no cervical signs and no period, you can't get pregnant.
If you were to show any of the preliminary signs of ovulation (mucus in particular) you should refrain from sexual activity (or use your birth control) until those signs stop again. But since it's been 3 months since your last period and you are 53, there is a good chance that you will go for the 12 months and further and be done with it.
I went 11 months and then had to start the count again after that last period. But it would be unlikely that those last few periods would be particularly fertile times and if you are watching for the signs, you can be proactive. There is no need to use birth control if there are no signs of fertility. If you have any more questions about the signs of fertility, let me know.
