#YouAsked: Can you get pregnant while you are going through menopause?

The transition time of menopause may vary for every woman. A few might experience this phase for merely two months and for some, it could last even for years. Apart from bodily changes, women usually experience hot flashes, mood swings and vaginal dryness. Precisely, this is the end of a woman’s reproductive years and getting pregnant may become close to impossible. But, do you wonder if you can, at all, get pregnant while you are going through menopause? Maybe, yes. We explain you why.

THE THREE PHASES: Menopause has three stages, namely, perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. Perimenopause is the first stage of the process, wherein a woman is about to reach the end of her menstrual cycle. She might go through the menstrual cycle but they are usually irregular. The second stage, menopause is when your periods completely end. It is usually confirmed when a woman has missed her menstruation cycle for 12 consecutive months. Postmenopause is the last stage that comes years later, when the phase of menopause is completely over. This means that symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes also stop showing. According to experts, if you have reached the menopausal stage, any vaginal bleeding is abnormal and should be reported to a health expert.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET PREGNANT? The answer is yes. When you are in its first transition period, which is also referred to as perimenopause, there are chances of getting pregnant. During perimenopause phase, the menstrual cycle becomes irregular and you may menstruate at uneven time intervals. You are unsure whether you have reached menopause and any unprotected sexual activity might lead to pregnancy. Although it is highly improbable but during perimenopausal stage too, your ovary has a few remaining egg cells. Hence, you still can conceive even during those few times you ovulate.

WOULD IT BE A HEALTHY PREGNANCY? Of course, it wouldn’t be a healthy pregnancy. Your growing age might create certain complications for the foetus as well as for your own health. Conceiving during menopausal phase is difficult and is also rarely observed as the eggs your body releases can be old. This is not good for a healthy pregnancy.

WHAT IF A WOMAN WANTS TO CONCEIVE DURING MENOPAUSE? As mentioned, the pregnancy could be complicated but if you want to conceive, you need to consult your doctor. Conceiving will be difficult as your body will be weaker and even your fertility will decline. They might recommend you certain treatments which may help you in getting pregnant. However, because your body would be weak and so would be your eggs, your child's risk of certain diseases can increase. So, it is best that you weigh everything before you make a choice.