Perimenopause and Menopause are stages in a woman’s life following the fertile days of her life. The common question about menopause is whether a woman can still get pregnant during this phase or during perimenopause or past postmenopause.
The fact is yes, a woman can still get pregnant during these phases of her life, but it isn’t a guarantee in all cases. The reason why I say this is that these phases don’t manifest themselves overnight, but it takes, days, months, and years to enter each phase. So, you never know!
Perimenopause, Menopause, & Postmenopause: What Do These Terms Signify?
The woman’s reproductive cycle is certainly interesting and the deeper you go, you will find that several aspects work together to facilitate fertility. During a woman’s reproductive years, she will continue producing several hormones that include; Luteinizing hormone (LH), Estrogen, Progesterone, and Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
For ovulation to occur or pregnancy, these hormones must be in a normal range. This also brings us to the fact that not every woman who menstruates can ovulate, although, that is how it must be. As years go by, a woman’s fertility rate or pregnancy chances naturally decline and the where she stops ovulating is known as menopause.
The Perimenopause phase can be termed as a transitional phase in a woman’s life. This is generally when the ovaries begin producing fewer hormones; ‘estrogen & progesterone’, yet on the other hand, your LH and FSH levels increase.
Hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods, and rare ovulation are some of the symptoms to expect during this phase.
The Menopause phase, however, is a period when your LH and FSH levels remain high, while your estrogen and progesterone levels remain low. Initially, it may be hard for you to know that you are in your menopausal stage, but once you realize no periods for over a year, this means that you are in your menopausal phase.
During this phase, a woman can no longer ovulate or conceive a child. Most women enter their menopausal phase after the age of 40.
The Postmenopause phase is that period of life when you no longer need to take birth control measures to avoid pregnancy.
Is Pregnancy Possible?
As explained above, it is possible to get pregnant, but your odds fall by each stage. Natural conception is possible during the perimenopause, but largely not possible during menopause and postmenopause.
In case a woman desires to get pregnant, IVF treatment is an excellent alternative for conception. It should be noted that menopause is irreversible. A couple should plan accordingly to avoid conception troubles that escalate with age advancement.
