Can you get pregnant during menopause?

Medically reviewed by Leslie Greenberg, MD
Board-Certified Family Physician
Written by Leandra Beabout
Contributor
Updated Jan 10, 2026  •  Published Jan 10, 2026
Fact Checked

Generally, you cannot get pregnant during menopause, which is clinically defined as 12 months after a woman’s last menstrual period. Pregnancy is still possible during perimenopause because irregular ovulation can occur, which is why anyone who has had a menstrual cycle within the last year should continue using birth control.

Want to go deeper?  Read our full analysis: What’s the best contraceptive pill in perimenopause?

Medical disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your OBGYN or healthcare provider before making changes to your medication regimen.

Sources

Medically reviewed by Leslie Greenberg, MD
Board-Certified Family Physician

Leslie Greenberg, MD, is a board-certified practicing family physician with more than 25 years of doctoring experience. She was a psychology major at Northwestern University near Chicago, then graduated with an MD from the University of Nevada School of Medicine. She completed her family medicine residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. She has trained more than 350 family medicine resident-physicians, been in private practice, and delivered babies for 22 years.

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Written by Leandra Beabout
Contributor

Leandra Beabout is a freelance health and travel writer based between Indiana and India. Her work has been published in Reader's Digest, Greatist, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, and more. She was previously an English teacher and daily newspaper reporter.

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