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Can I Have a Baby After I Hit Menopause?
Every woman will experience menopause and the process can start as early as the 30s or as late as the 50s. But, once you hit menopause and no longer have your period, is there still a chance you can get pregnant? The surprising answer is yes, but with some qualifiers
Can you get pregnant during perimenopause?
It’s good to note that during peri/menopause, which occurs in the lead up to menopause and can take 7 to 10 years, a woman can get pregnant naturally, even if she is only getting her period sporadically. Celebrities like Halle Berry have shared that this happened to them.
So, make sure you keep using birth control through peri/menopause if you don’t want to get pregnant. Traditionally, birth control pills were not recommended for women over 40. Research now shows that there are some birth control pill options that could work during peri/menopause, but it's best to discuss with your doctor. They can help you find the right birth control option for your body and lifestyle, from diaphragms and condoms to intrauterine devices (IUD) or tubal ligation (tubes tied).
Can you get pregnant after menopause?
In general, if 12 months have passed without any period, a woman can no longer naturally get pregnant and have a child. This marks the time when there’s no need for birth control of any kind, hough condoms are always a good option for safer sex practices.
But, if a woman has gone through menopause and interested in becoming pregnant, there is an option.
What are the options to get pregnant after menopause?
IVF is currently the only way a menopausal woman can still carry a child. IVF is the only option because when a woman has hit menopause she is no longer producing eggs, so either an egg donor is needed for this process or the woman can use her own eggs that were previously frozen pre-menopause. There are numerous agencies that can connect women to egg donors, and there’s also the possibility that a family member could donate an egg.
What exactly is IVF?
The Mayo Clinic defines In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility or prevent genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. According to Mayo Clinic, the IVF procedure involves retrieving mature eggs from ovaries and using sperm to fertilize them in a lab. Then, the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs are transferred to the uterus.
IVF is not 100% effective. A woman’s age has an effect on the success of the procedure.
Studies show that women having children between 50-63 experienced complications, including:
- gestational diabetes at a 5% higher rate than usual.
- 78% gave birth via cesarean section.
- 35% had pregnancy-induced high blood pressure.
Is it safe to have a baby after menopause?
This is something to discuss with your doctor to see if it’s a good fit for you. Every woman's body and every woman's menopause is different.
