Women over the age of 45 are not contraindicated to the emergency contraceptive pill and can use it occasionally as a method of emergency contraception.
A woman’s method of remedial contraception to prevent an unwanted pregnancy from occurring within hours or days of having unprotected sex or contraceptive failure is called emergency contraception and usually includes the placement of an intrauterine device and oral emergency contraceptive pills.
There are several types of emergency contraceptives, commonly used are estrogenic and anti-progestational preparations such as compounded levonorgestrel and mifepristone. The success rate of emergency contraception is significantly lower than that of conventional contraceptive methods (condoms, etc.), and emergency contraceptives contain higher doses of hormones and cause more side effects, including nausea and vomiting, irregular vaginal bleeding, and menstrual disorders.
The common contraindications to the emergency contraceptive pill are: 1) serious cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and thrombotic disease; 2) acute and chronic hepatitis and acute and chronic nephritis; 3) malignant tumors of the female reproductive tract; 4) endocrine disease, such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, etc. Women over 45 years of age can take the emergency contraceptive pill without these contraindications, but in view of its many side effects. The emergency contraceptive pill can only be taken temporarily and cannot be used as a regular contraceptive measure.