I would like to thank Dr Al-Hassan for his comments1 on guidance about contraception for women aged over 40 years published in 2010.2 Many of the recommendations for contraceptive use in women aged over 40 years are based on the UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use published in 2010.3 Both of these evidence-based guidance documents2 3 therefore supersede any recommendation in guidance published prior to this. …