Pregnancy During Menopause

While pregnancy is unlikely in women of menopausal age, it is possible to become pregnant in these periods. Women over the age of 50 have become pregnant, particularly during perimenopause. During the period of time leading up to menopause, a woman's menstrual cycle becomes erratic and it is therefore difficult to know if she is pregnant or not.

What is Menopause?

According to the Mayo Clinic, menopause is defined as the exact moment when menstruation ends in a woman's life. The period of time before this moment is more correctly referred to as perimenopause and it is in the weeks and months immediately before menopause where chances are still good that a woman can become pregnant.

Misconceptions about Chances of Pregnancy During Menopause

Due to the irregularity of menstrual cycles leading up to the onset of menopause, many women may feel that their ability to conceive has ended. In many cases, a woman may experience a month or more when menstruation does not take place and she may feel as if she will not be able to become pregnant. Some women may stop using birth control methods due to this irregularity in menstrual cycles, believing that they are now unable to conceive. According to the National Library of Medicine, a woman who is in the perimenopause stage can in fact still become pregnant.

How Long Before Menopause Is Complete?

The age at which clinical menopause (12 months without ovulation) occurs can vary widely. Menopause can come to some women in their 40's and yet some women can still ovulate into their 60's. This will depend on the individual woman and therefore it can not be predicted. The truest indication of the onset of menopause will be not only the irregular menstruation process but the complete cessation of ovulation.

Birth Control and Menopause

Women who regularly take oral contraceptives may not be aware of the onset of menopause. Birth control pills will mimic the menstrual cycle, where bleeding will take place in the last seven days of the pill cycle when the placebo is taken. If a woman is approaching menopause, the irregularity of the menstruation will be masked by the contraceptive. It won't be until the end of the placebo cycle that a woman who is perimenopausal will notice the cessation of bleeding and ovulation.

Pregnancy during Menopause

The standard precautions that apply to health issues for any woman who is pregnant should be adhered to when a menopausal woman becomes pregnant. A doctor or other medical professional should be contacted. Any advice that may be administered pertaining to special considerations for diet, hormone therapy, or changes in lifestyle or environmental conditions should also be followed to ensure the optimum chance for a healthy delivery.