“…women do still get pregnant in their late 40s and
even into their 50s (without using assisted reproduction
techniques). So contraception should be continued until…”.¹

Umbrella

What may the Menopause and Pregnancy Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

Perimenopause Pregnancy

Is it possible to get pregnant during perimenopause?

In Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause: How Does Menopause Affect Fertility? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:

“Your fertility will decline as you age, but while you still ovulate it is possible to get pregnant. In the lead-up to menopause, it’s possible to ovulate twice during one cycle. And you can still ovulate up to 3 months before your final period”.²

On page one in Contraception for the Older Woman the (British) Women’s Health Concern (WHC) note:

“Many women are aware that their fertility declines from their mid 30s and think they can stop using contraception once they are in their 40s. They wrongly assume – because their fertility is lower, they have less sex and their periods may have become irregular – that contraception can be abandoned. However, women do still get pregnant in their late 40s and even into their 50s (without using assisted reproduction techniques). So contraception should be continued until menopause, which is defined as two years after the last natural menstrual period in women under age 50 and until one year after the last natural menstrual period in women over age 50. If menopause cannot be confirmed, contraception should be continued until age 55”.³

In Menopause Basics: Should I Use Birth Control During the Transition To Menopause? the Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov explain:

“Yes. You can still get pregnant during perimenopause, the transition to menopause, even if you miss your period for a month or a few months. During perimenopause, you may still ovulate, or release an egg, on some months”.⁴

Pregnancy 45-49 Years

What is the possibility of pregnancy in women aged 45-49 years?

In Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause: How Does Menopause Affect Fertility? the JH explain:

“The possibility of pregnancy in women aged 45 to 49 is estimated to be 2% to 3% per year”.⁵

Pregnancy After 50

What is the possibility of pregnancy in women after the age of 50?

In Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause: How Does Menopause Affect Fertility? When Is It Safe To Stop Contraception? the JH note:

“After the age of 50, it’s less than 1%”.⁶

Contraception Younger Than 50

If younger than 50, can contraception be stopped?

In Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause: How Does Menopause Affect Fertility? When Is It Safe To Stop Contraception? the JH elaborate on:

“If you’re younger than 50 and you don’t want to fall pregnant, you should use contraception for at least 2 years after your final period”.⁷

Contraception 50 or Older

If 50 or older, can contraception be stopped?

In Looking After Yourself Around the Time of Menopause: How Does Menopause Affect Fertility? When Is It Safe To Stop Contraception? the JH explain:

“If you’re 50 or older and you don’t want to fall pregnant, you should use contraception for at least one year after your final period. Note that MHT is not a contraceptive”.⁸

Contraception After 55

After aged 55, can contraception be stopped?

In Contraception and the Menopause the European Menopause and Andropause Society note:

“Cessation of contraception should be considered after age 55 as spontaneous conception is extremely rare for these women”.⁹

Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill

What is recommended for the perimenopausal woman needing contraception?

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause, published online 30 October 2023, the authors explain:

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) a method of contraception?

No. On page four in Contraception for the Older Woman: Hormone Replacement Therapy the WHC note:

“It is important to realise that HRT is not a method of contraception”.¹¹

HRT + Contraception

Can HRT + contraception be necessary?

On page four in Contraception for the Older Woman: Hormone Replacement Therapy the WHC explain:

Emergency Contraception

Is emergency contraception available?

Depending on the Country, emergency contraception may be available. Your Country may have a Link similar to the American College of Gynecologist’s Emergency Contraception: Frequently Asked Questions.

Health Care Provider

What if I would like to find out what is the best contraception for me?

The JH advises:

“Talk to your doctor about the best contraception for you”.¹³

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Menopause and Pregnancy?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause and Pregnancy?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at: