A lot of women incorrectly believe that they cannot get pregnant during menopause. However, this is far from the truth. Even though your body is going through a phase of change and your menstrual cycle has become erratic, there is a possibility of you getting pregnant. Many women have had a surprise pregnancy at the over the age of 50 because they believed that it was not possible.

The only time you can be 100 percent sure that you won't get pregnant, during or after menopause, is if you have not had a period for 12 consecutive months. Until such time, you should practice some type of birth control. Obviously, your chances of becoming pregnant during menopause are significantly lower than when you were in your 20s and 30s.

It may surprise you to know that 60 percent of pregnant women over the age of 40 have abortions. Equally surprising is the fact that 50 percent of women between the ages of 45 and 49 don't use any type of birth control. Some use natural birth control (only having sexual intercourse at ‘safe’ times of the month) but this method gets less reliable as you get older. This is because the time of ovulation and the menstrual cycle both become erratic.

Over the age of 35, there are a number of risks associated with being pregnant. There are potential dangers for the baby and the mother. These include premature birth, still birth, and a weakened immune system in the baby. For pregnant women older than 40, there are even more risks. This is why sexually active women should use birth control before and during menopause.

Older women often choose protection through sterilization because most of them have already had their children and don't want any more. Another option is to have tubal ligation surgery. Both these methods are irreversible but are very effective. Men older than 40 years often choose to have vasectomies to prevent their sexual partners from becoming pregnant.

Some women prefer to continue taking birth control pills. Low dosages of these can be used long-term with virtually no side effects, plus they can prevent certain types of cancer. They also help with the unpleasant symptoms of menopause such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and night sweats. Other birth control options for menopausal women include cervical caps and sponges. Their sexual partners can also use condoms.

Women should not view menopause as a time when they lose fertility because menopause can be a long process. You do not become infertile overnight which means there is always a chance of getting pregnant. Because of this, women should take responsibility during menopause and ensure that they take precautionary measures to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.

As mentioned earlier, you can only be really sure that there is no chance of becoming pregnant when you have had no menstrual cycle for a year. Even if your periods are few and far between, there is still a chance that you can conceive. This is because the eggs are still being released and can be fertilized.