Many women believe that when they are going through menopause they are unable to become pregnant. However, that is not the case and while your body may be changing and your periods may be irregular there is still a chance of pregnancy. Some women have become pregnant at 50 simply because they were going through perimenopause and thought they couldn’t get pregnant. Before you can bet on being infertile due to menopause you will need to experience 12 consecutive months with no period. Until you reach that you will be able to get pregnant.

Of course, your chances of getting pregnant during this time are not the same as the chances you had of conceiving during your 20s and 30s. However, you can still get pregnant and that means you need to use some form of protection if you aren’t willing to risk a pregnancy.

It may be surprising, but women over 40 abort 60% of unwanted pregnancies. Surprisingly, half of women between 45 and 49 do not use any form of contraception. There are a few that may use natural methods to avoid pregnancy, however it is really difficult to use natural methods to protect against an unwanted pregnancy because your periods are irregular and so is ovulation.

There are also many risk that are associated with pregnancy after the age of 35, for both mother and baby. Still birth, premature birth, and low birth weight may all occur after the age of 35. After the age of 40 there are even more dangers to be aware of .

Many women choose to protect themselves from an unwanted pregnancy through sterilization. Tubal ligation is easy and effective. Men may choose a vasectomy to prevent against pregnancy, too, and this is usually fast and safe, too.

Some women may choose to continue taking oral contraceptives to prevent against pregnancy. Low dosage pills may be used for a long period of time and can also help protect against a variety of cancers. These pills can also help with vaginal dryness and hot flashes. Other options include condoms, sponges, cervical caps, and the like.

Posted in Menopause

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