Yes - pregnancy remains possible throughout perimenopause until 12 consecutive months without a period confirm menopause.
Ovulation turns erratic during the transition but does not stop, and unpredictable cycles plus relaxed contraception is exactly how surprise pregnancies happen in the mid-40s. Fertility is lower and miscarriage risk higher than in your 20s or 30s, but possible means possible.
What to do
Common questions
Can I get pregnant during perimenopause?
Yes - pregnancy remains possible throughout perimenopause until menopause is confirmed by 12 consecutive months without a period. The reason is the nature of the transition: ovulation becomes erratic and cycles irregular, but the ovaries still release eggs some months. Fertility is clearly lower than in your 20s or 30s and miscarriage risk rises with age, but the combination of unpredictable ovulation and relaxed contraception is exactly how surprise pregnancies happen in the mid-40s. The guidance cuts both directions: if you want to conceive, do not wait - see a doctor early, because time is the scarce resource and fertility treatments have age cutoffs. If you do not, keep using contraception until the 12-month mark; your doctor can help decide when it is safe to stop, sometimes with hormone testing to confirm. Only after menopause is pregnancy no longer possible. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you think through either direction.