Women in perimenopause begin to have a decline in the function of the ovaries and also reduce the favorable conditions for pregnancy. So is perimenopause pregnant? And should I continue to use birth control?
Body changes in perimenopause
Perimenopause is defined in many ways, but doctors generally agree that it begins with an irregular menstrual cycle due to decreased ovarian function and ends a year after the last menstrual period. In other words, it is the stepping stone for you to enter menopause. Depending on each person, the time of perimenopause will be different. For most women, perimenopause occurs in the mid to late 40s.
Perimenopause lasts until menopause, when the ovaries stop ovulating. During the last 1 to 2 years of perimenopause, this drop in estrogen accelerates. At this stage many women begin to have menopausal symptoms. Some symptoms may include:
- Menstrual disorders
- Flushing
- Night sweats
- Lower back pain
- Dry, wrinkled skin
- Vaginal dryness
- Mood change
- Sleep disorders
- Decreased reproductive function
Required conditions for being able to get pregnant
To know Premenopausal pregnant?, we need to know the conditions for a successful conception. The required condition is that fertilization takes place. This means that the egg and sperm must combine to form a zygote.
In a 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation usually occurs on day 14. After the egg is released, it moves into the fallopian tube. The egg will stay there for about 24 hours, waiting for a sperm to fertilize it. All of this happens on average about 2 weeks before your next period.
If not fertilized, the egg will be pushed out with the blood, uterine lining cells and other substances. Conversely, if fertilized egg will form a zygote, continue to divide and implant in the uterus to form an embryo.
Can perimenopause get pregnant?
Fertility naturally declines with age. At perimenopause, the activity of the ovaries begins to decline, and the menstrual cycle is also disturbed.
You start puberty with 300000 to 500000 eggs. This number drops to about 25,000 at age 37 and continues to drop to 1,000 or less at age 51. Therefore, the chance of getting pregnant after 1 year in women aged 40 years old is only 44% compared to 85% in women younger than 30 years old. However, the probability is small but still possible especially when you are still menstruating and sexually active. Therefore Premenopausal pregnant?? The answer is still possible.
Do you need to use birth control during perimenopause?
Because you can still get pregnant at perimenopause, it’s important to use birth control. Until you are certain that you are in menopause (No period within 12 months of your last period) because once you are in menopause you will not be able to get pregnant.
If you are using birth control methods such as daily oral contraceptive pills, oral contraceptive injections, contraceptive implant, vaginal ring, etc. You can consult with your doctor to decide when to have the above measures may be discontinued.
If you want to stop using hormonal birth control during perimenopause, you can switch to a non-drug method (such as condoms or spermicide) sooner.
See also: Useful drugs for perimenopause
What if you get pregnant at perimenopause?
Miscarriage
With a decrease in egg quality, the risk of miscarriage is higher. Miscarriages may also be more likely due to medical conditions you have, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Stillbirth can also happen, so it’s important to have regular prenatal visits to catch the earliest signs.
Chromosome problems
Older women may also have more chromosomal problems. For example, the risk of having a baby with Down syndrome is about 1 in 4840 for women at age 20. At age 40, this risk increases to about 1 in 85.
Twins, triplets
Carrying more than one pregnancy carries many risks for both mother and baby. The reason for having taller twins or triplets over the age of 35 is more likely related to hormonal changes (you may release more than one egg per cycle).
Gestational diabetes
Diabetes that develops during pregnancy can cause the baby to grow large while in the womb. When a baby is too big, there is a chance of birth injury. Not only that, but gestational diabetes can contribute to high blood pressure (for the mother) and premature birth or other complications (for the baby).
High Blood Pressure
Gestational hypertension or preeclampsia in pregnancy is also more likely at age 40.
Low birth weight
The risk of preterm birth and low birth weight is increased in pregnant women over the age of 40. This may be due to the effects of other factors involved.
Caesarean
With pregnancy complications, the risk of a cesarean delivery versus a vaginal delivery increases. In fact, the rate of cesarean section increases with age: from 26 percent at age 20, to 40 percent at age 35, to 48 percent at age 40.
It is still possible to get pregnant at perimenopause because you are still ovulating. If you don’t want to get pregnant, continue using birth control. If you want to get pregnant, you should use methods to increase your chances of getting pregnant, conduct regular antenatal checkups, and prepare well for your pregnancy. me.
John Alen was born in 1971 and is a doctor in the healthcare and psychology fields with many years of experience. He is currently working at easyhealthylive.com, a leading health and psychology blog. Having studied at Y1 National Medical University named after IM Sechenov, John Alen is using his knowledge and experience to help improve the physical and mental health of people in the United States.
