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When should I come off the Pill?
I recently had a routine smear test where the nurse had great difficulty in finding my cervix. I'm 44 and still take the pill (Loestrin). At what age would you recommend coming off the pill? I have no desire to have children and would welcome an alternative method of contraception.
The cervix can be difficult to find in some women - in around 20 per cent of females, the womb is tilted - either following childbirth or as a variant of normal. This is of no concern - just annoying if someone has to poke around longer than usual to find it, which can cause discomfort.
How long you can stay on the pill depends on a variety of factors - such as your weight, whether or not you smoke, and whether or not you experience side effects. Some women can stay on the pill until the menopause, while others may prefer to switch to the mini-pill or to another method such as the Mirena coil (which releases a low dose of hormone and is especially useful for women experiencing heavy periods). Your GP or family planning nurse is the best person to help you make the right decision.
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