Hormone Therapy and Contraception

“Women who take birth control pills have not been through menopause and need higher levels of hormones to prevent ovulation. HRT is not a high enough strength to stop…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Hormone Therapy and Contraception Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Birth Control
  • Conception
  • Contraception
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  • Pregnancy

Contraceptive or Not

Is menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or hormone therapy (HT) a contraceptive which women can choose to use to prevent becoming pregnant?

No. The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health caution:

“Please note that MHT is not a contraceptive”.2

In Estrogen & Hormones: Overview – Is HRT the Same As Birth Control? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic explain:

Hormone Therapy and Contraception

“No. Although women who take birth control pills are also taking estrogen and progestin, the effect is not the same. Women who take birth control pills have not been through menopause and need higher levels of hormones to prevent ovulation. HRT is not a high enough strength to stop ovulation.

After menopause, estrogen levels are low and HRT is used at a low dose to restore hormone levels to a more normal level”.3

Contraception Methods

What are some methods of contraception when using HRT?

In Contraception for Older Women: Hormone Replacement Therapy the (British) Women’s Health Concern explain:

“It is important to realise that HRT is not a method of contraception. If periods have not stopped before starting HRT then a method of contraception should be used in addition to HRT. Suitable methods to consider would be barrier methods, an IUD, the progestogen-only pill or the IUS. The IUS has the additional advantage of providing the progestogen component of HRT and so minimises bleeding problems and other side-effects that might occur from the progestogen”.4

Contraception

How long may women need to use contraception?

The North American Menopause Society note:

“Although fertility falls during perimenopause, women are not fully protected from an unplanned pregnancy until they have reached menopause, which means 12 straight months without a period. Even if you have a few months without a period, you can still get pregnant”.5

Health Care Provider

If I choose to use HT what may I choose to use for contraception?

If you choose to use HT it may be in your best interest to also choose to talk to your health care provider about your contraceptive options.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Hormone Therapy and Pregnancy?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy and Contraception?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

  1. Birth Control Methods
  2. Contraception
  3. Contraception
  4. Contraception and the Menopause
  5. Contraception for the Older Women
  6. Contraception: You Need It Longer Than You May Think
  7. EMAS Menopause Essentials
  8. EMAS Replay
  9. Estrogen & Hormones: Overview – Is HRT the Same As Birth Control?
  10. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  11. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  12. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  13. Hormone Replacement Therapy
  14. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  15. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  16. Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  17. Information About Menopause [Videos]
  18. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Sexual Health and Contraception – Contraception
  19. Menopause
  20. Menopause
  21. Menopause
  22. Menopause
  23. Menopause FAQs: An Introduction To Menopause – Q. Now that my periods have stopped, can I discontinue contraceptives?
  24. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hormone Therapy and Contraception
  25. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – Stages of Menopause: Perimenopause
  26. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause – About Menopause: Should I still use a contraceptive during menopause to avoid pregnancy? [NICE Guideline]
  27. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  28. Menopause: What Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT)? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  29. Perimenopause
  30. Perimenopause
  31. Perimenopause Birth Control: What Are My Options?
  32. Sex & Relationships: Managing Contraception During Menopause
  33. Video Series-2021: Importance of Birth Control In Perimenopause
  34. Video Series-2021: Importance of Contraception at Perimenopause
  35. Video Series-2021: What Women Need to Know About Hormone Therapies
  36. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause: Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  37. Webinar: Perimenopause
  38. Webinars: Previous – Perimenopause Contraception
  39. Your Contraceptive Guide
  40. Your Contraceptive Guide: How Do I Know I’ve Reached Menopause If I’m on the Pill?

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Estrogen & Hormones: Overview – Is HRT the Same As Birth Control? Reviewed: 29 April 2019. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16979-estrogen–hormones Accessed: 01 June 2022
  2. Sex & Relationships: Managing Contraception During Menopause – When Is It Safe To Stop Contraception? Last Updated: 16 July 2021 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/sex Accessed: 01 June 2022
  3. Estrogen & Hormones: Overview – Is HRT the Same As Birth Control? Reviewed: 29 April 2019. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16979-estrogen–hormones Accessed: 01 June 2022
  4. Contraception for the Older Woman: Hormone Replacement Therapy. Reviewed: November 2019. British Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/contraception-older-woman/ Accessed: 01 June 2022
  5. Contraception: You Need It Longer Than You May Think. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/reminders-and-resources/contraception-you-need-it-longer-than-you-may-think Accessed: 01 June 2022

Topic Last Updated: 02 March 2022 – Topic Last Reviewed: 02 March 2022
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