Why Can't a Woman in Menopause Get Pregnant?
There are several basic biological reasons why a woman going through menopause may not be able to conceive naturally. Menopause is a period in a woman's life when the ovaries stop functioning and menstrual cycles end. Here are the reasons for this situation
1-) Loss of Function of the Ovaries
- Depletion of Egg Reserve Women are born with a certain number of eggs at birth, and these eggs gradually decrease throughout life. When menopause occurs, there are no healthy eggs left in the ovaries suitable for fertilization.
- Cessation of Follicle Production: During menopause, the ovaries no longer produce follicles (egg-containing sacs). Without follicles, egg release does not occur and natural ovulation does not occur.
2-) Changes in Hormone Levels
- Decline in Estrogen and Progesterone Levels During menopause, the levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones drop significantly. These hormones support egg maturation and ovulation. When hormone levels are low, these processes stop.
- Increased Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Levels During menopause, the body produces more FSH and LH to stimulate the ovaries. However, the ovaries do not respond to these hormones and ovulation does not occur.
3-) End of Menstrual Cycle
– Cessation of Menstrual Bleeding Menopause means the permanent cessation of menstrual bleeding. Without a menstrual cycle, ovulation and preparation of the uterine wall, which are necessary for natural pregnancy, do not occur.
4-) Aging of the Uterus and Ovaries
- Structural Changes of the Uterus and Ovaries With menopause, aging-related changes occur in the structure and functions of the uterus and ovaries. This makes embryo implantation and pregnancy sustainability difficult.
Menopause is a period when a woman's reproductive capacity naturally ends. During this process, the ovaries stop producing eggs, hormone levels decrease and the menstrual cycle ends. These biological changes eliminate the chance of pregnancy naturally.
However, post-menopausal pregnancy may be possible using assisted reproductive techniques such as donor eggs and IVF treatment. These treatments require advanced medical interventions to increase the chances of pregnancy for women who are going through menopause.
