Perimenopausal Pregnancy For the Woman Who Wants to Get Pregnant

My cousin is desperate to have a child. Now nearing her 40s, her doctor has confirmed what she dreads hearing - she's in perimenopause. She knows the risks - low birth weight for the baby, premature birth, and possibly (God forbid!) still-birth.

She also knows that she'll most possibly deliver via cesarean section and the baby might be in breech position for most of the pregnancy. If she steps into the 40's range, she's now at risk for developing osteoporosis. The baby is not out of danger either as he/she may contract gestational diabetes or abnormalities via the chromosomes. And she doesn't care, as her husband supports her all the way.

If you want to get pregnant as well but you're currently in perimenopause, don't worry. Studies have shown that as long as you haven't experienced at least a year of absence of the menstrual period, then you are still considered fertile and ovulating -still a possible candidate for pregnancy. But if you're having trouble conceiving and you'd like to move up a little faster, then ask your doctor about possible fertility treatments like the following:

- Test you ovarian reserve. This is to check if you have a healthy number of workable eggs in your ovaries. These could be via Day 3 FSH (measuring the FSH level on day 3 of the cycle), estradiol test (also done on day 3, and aiming for low FSH and low estradiol level), and the Clomiphene Challenge Test (a blood test to find out if your ovarian reserve is compromised, you need to take the fertility drug Clomiphene for a period of 5 days).
- Ovulation-inducing fertility drugs or treatments like Clomiphene and FSH.
- IVF treatment. This treatment places a fertilized egg directly in your uterus. The success rate for this declines at the age of 40 and 43 though.
- Egg donation. Said to be the most effective treatment for a perimenopausal woman, this would involve a slight controversy over morals as an egg from another woman will be fertilized with your spouse's sperm. Still, it allows you to experience pregnancy and childbirth.

Since Clomiphene didn't work on her well, my cousin went through the IVF treatment since she's not at the critical age yet. After giving birth to a beautiful baby boy, she says that there were no regrets.

The treatments are relative, as women have different reactions to different tests or therapies. So as with any decision, it is best to be informed in any way possible. To ensure that you get pregnant, consult your doctor or health practitioner for the right treatment for you. Just be prepared as you will surely go through a battery of tests, if only to make certain that you will bear a child.