Menopause is when a woman goes 12 months without menstruating, and this occurs most often between 48 and 51 years of age, marking the end of her reproductive period. Naturally, women cannot become pregnant after menopause, but it is possible to become pregnant when women are entering menopause, a period called climacteric, where symptoms such as headache, hot flashes and irregular menstruation are present.
Thus, if the woman has not tubal ligated and is not using any contraceptive method and continues to have intimate contact, she may become pregnant and therefore if this is not her desire even though she suspects that she is entering menopause, she should continue using contraceptive methods to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
If you suspect you are pregnant, take our online pregnancy test to find out what the risk is.
How is climacteric pregnancy
Pregnancy during the pre-menopausal period can be at risk for both the woman and the baby. The symptoms are the same as a common pregnancy, with morning sickness, drowsiness, mood swings, and the main difference is that the woman may discover that she is pregnant later, as menstrual delay is one of the first symptoms that characterize pregnancy, but in this case, it is expected not to be present every month.
After discovering the pregnancy, go to the gynecologist to start prenatal care. The woman should go to the doctor every month and perform blood and ultrasound tests, at least once a quarter or whenever the doctor requests to monitor the baby's development. This care is very important because pregnancy after 40 years of age has some risks, such as an increased chance of gestational diabetes, eclampsia, abortion, premature birth and there is also a greater possibility of the baby having some syndrome.
How to avoid late pregnancy
To avoid late pregnancy, which can happen when a woman is entering menopause, it is recommended to take the birth control pill or use a condom in every intimate contact. See how to correctly put the male condom and the female condom.
In addition, it is recommended to go to the gynecologist to assess your hormonal situation and indicate if the woman is actually already in menopause or if she is still experiencing the climacteric and what to expect from this stage of life.
How to get pregnant at menopause
After the onset of menopause, a woman can no longer conceive because her ovaries fail to function. However, if getting pregnant is still a desire, the gynecologist can indicate what to do as there are treatments to get pregnant with assisted reproduction techniques, such as in vitro fertilization with the use of eggs from another donor.
But before making the decision to become pregnant at this stage the woman should talk to her doctor, as there are limitations that can hinder this process and even harm the woman's life.
