Can you get pregnant during perimenopause?
Yes. During perimenopause, ovulation becomes less predictable, but it doesn't stop completely, so pregnancy is still possible even if your periods are irregular. Menopause is only confirmed after 12 straight months without a period, so if you don't want to get pregnant, contraception is still recommended until then. One important detail, hormone therapy for perimenopause symptoms does not prevent pregnancy.
If your period is late or missed, a pregnancy test, usually most accurate several days after the missed period, is the simplest way to rule pregnancy in or out. Early pregnancy and perimenopause can look very similar, with symptoms like fatigue, breast tenderness, and cycle changes. Here at Alloy, we break that down in Menopause or Pregnancy: Understanding the Signs. If you want symptom relief plus contraception while you're still getting periods, our Low-Dose Birth Control Pill is made for that stage. This short video chapter on contraception during perimenopause explains it clearly.
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