AS LONG AS a woman has a menstrual period, there is the possibility of pregnancy although the chances are increasingly remote as one approaches the menopause. Even if a woman has perimenopausal symptoms, it does not mean that she cannot get pregnant. About 75% of pregnancies in women above the age of 40 years are unplanned.
A woman is considered to have reached the menopause if she has not had a period for 12 consecutive months. This is a retrospective diagnosis. The average age of the menopause is 50-51 years. It is generally thought that contraception should be continued for two years after the last menstrual period in women under 50 years of age and for a year after the last menstrual period in women more than 50 years of age.
Win a prize this Mother's Day by subscribing to our annual plan now! T&C applies.
