Birth Control and Over 35

I'm sure with this title a few men that read me just logged off.

I'm 37, and haven't been on any BCP (birth control pills) for the last 13 years.
I stopped for no reason other than I was no longer sexually active. Never went back on it when I became active again.

I was using condoms as additional protection when I was taking bcp's and never gave it a second thought about going back on them. I've been taking sex ed since the 4th grade (10 yrs old) and even volunteered at the Family Planning Centre in high school.
So I like to think I'm reasonably educated when it comes to BC.

Until now.

I'm over the age of 35, sexually active, a sexual prude about my sexual health, and really never thought about the "what if's" of being in an exclusive relationship.

Exclusive relationship + not wanting kids + over 35 = BC IS NEEDED if I want to really enjoy my partner without condoms.

For those that don't know, there is a whole world of issues that may occur at this age if you are taking bcp's and smoke, or are on long term medications of any kind.
Blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, osteoporosis + bcp is a big study at UBC right now.
Not to mention the affects it may delay or increase in those menopause ages. (BCP are starting to be used now as hormone replacement instead of HRT, 1) doctors know the long term effects of BCP over that of HRT and 2) bcp have a higher dose of proestrogen /estrogen than that of HRT)

Without boring you and lecturing you on a woman's sexual health, in short, my choices for a BC that fit my life style are becoming limited.
I'm healthy aside from being 70 lbs overweight and on a life time of thyroid medication.

What are my choices?
IUD?
Stay with condoms?
Try a low dose BCP? estrogen alone or combined with pro/est?
Nuvaring? (yuck)
Depo shot? (no thanks, I want to know that all the girlie bits are in working order)
I personally think it's unnatural to deliberately stop your period. SO much information about your general health can be learned/known from what/how your monthly womanhood is behaving.

I'll keep it short for now. If anyone knows of other types of BC to look into, I would love your input. Stories, or know of stories. In the mean time I will of course be talking to my doctor and Obgyn.