Menopause, defined as the absence of menstruation for 12 consecutive months, marks the end of your childbearing years. Most women enter menopause around age 50, but you may experience it sooner or later depending on your family history and lifestyle behaviors. Perimenopause is the five- to 10-year time period that precedes menopause. While pregnancy is possible in perimenopause, your chances of becoming pregnant decrease as you near menopause.
Perimenopause
In your late 30s and 40s, you may notice perimenopausal changes in your menstrual cycle due to hormone shifts resulting in erratic ovulation. Your periods become shorter, longer, lighter or heavier and can be absent for a month or two. You may experience some menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances and mood swings during this time. While you may be able to conceive, your chance of becoming pregnant decreases as you progress toward age 50.
Pregnancy Likelihood
After age 40, you have about a 5 percent chance of becoming pregnant per month, according to SheKnows.com. At age 44, your likelihood of natural pregnancy with a healthy reproductive system is 38 percent within one year of trying to conceive. Your chance of pregnancy drops to 5 percent within one year when you are in the 46 to 50 year range.
Post-Menopause
Becoming pregnant after menopause is very unlikely, but not impossible. There is a slight chance you could experience a few ovulatory cycles just after menopause. As a result, women under age 50 are advised to use contraception for two years following the start of menopause. If you are over 50, contraception may be recommended for one year after the beginning of menopause.
Considerations
Talk with your mother or sisters about the age they entered menopause or began to notice menopausal symptoms. Family history is one factor related to when you may enter menopause. An increased body mass index and having more than one previous pregnancy is linked to later menopause. Smoking and never being pregnant may influence early menopause. Check with your physician for advice on pregnancy after the age of 35 and into your 40s as you progress toward menopause.
References
- MayoClinic.org: Perimenopause
- "New Dimensions in Women's Health: Fifth Edition"; Linda Alexander, et al.; 2010
- SheKnows; Your "Real" Reproductive Age; ary Kittel with Deborah Metzger, MD, PhD; 2004
- Managing Menopause; Contraception; Nov. 30, 2009
- Calculatorslive.com: Chances Of Getting Pregnant Calculator - Odds of Conception By Age
