Menopause and pregnancy
Menopause and pregnancy, at least the early stages before true menopause take place (perimenopause), are not mutually exclusive.
Menopause is defined as having had no period or menstruation for 12 consecutive months. Prior to that, women may miss a period from time to time, or may even miss a couple. True menopause falls into the 12-month rule.
The trouble with conceptions about menopause and pregnancy is women may consider that if they’re near menopause they can’t get pregnant. There’s a lower incidence of birth control use in women in perimenopausal state, and it is provable that women may have a harder time getting pregnant if their menstruation cycles are irregular and unpredictable.
However, the number of women who do get pregnant accidentally is quite high, and it’s important to recognize that risk of pregnancy continues until you have missed a period for 12 months.
The decline in fertility during perimenopause is related to several factors, including that word we don’t want to hear, “aging” of the ovaries and the uterus. Other specific changes are going on as well: rising levels of folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) and changes in the feedback mechanism that regulates the menstrual cycle.
This increase in FSH is a reflection of the lower number of follicles within the ovaries and the less viable quality of the follicles. Fewer follicles, poor quality, and irregular or lack of ovulation contribute to this decline in fertility. The blood level of FSH on day 3 of the menstrual cycle is a good indicator of infertility related to aging ovaries.
On the other hand, some women mistakenly think that if they are in their mid- to late 40s or early 50s, having some perimenopause symptoms, and haven’t menstruated for a few months, they cannot become pregnant. On the contrary, unplanned pregnancies are common during this time period.
Do not be fooled by one or two missed bleeding periods into thinking you are no longer fertile. Instead, go by the medical definition.
If you want to get pregnant, first symptoms of menopause may signify your last opportunity. On the other hand, if you want to avoid pregnancy, be sure to continue to use right birth control methods.
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