CONTRACEPTIVE CARE OF THE OLDER PATIENT – THE CHANGES
Women and men throughout their lives have to face changes, from babyhood to childhood, from childhood to adolescence, and then to adulthood. The changes appear less for men though this may not be entirely so. For women, the physical changes are more dramatic and more visible. For men, once adulthood has been attained the body does not change much until old age really sets in, unless accident or over-indulgence intervene. Women have to cope with the changes brought about by pregnancy and later the menopause. Such changes are not under their control and although the body is not abnormal, it is not as it was before. Their adjustment to these changes affects their approach to life on the whole and to contraception and sexuality in particular. For women who have previously been in control of these areas of their lives, this phase can be difficult. Doctors are sometimes consulted by patients who have been well settled on their contraception for some time. A request to stop the method or change the method when there are no side-effects or difficulties should make one stop and think about the feelings behind the request.
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