The time of menopause varies tremendously between women. Before your periods stop altogether, it is likely that your periods will become irregular and unpredictable. Although you are less likely to produce an egg (ovulate) every month, your ovaries will still be producing some eggs and, for this reason, it is important that you consider using contraception. So, although there is a natural decline in your fertility after the age of about 37 years, effective contraception is still required to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. It is safe for all women to stop contraception at the age of 55, even if still having periods, as it would be exceptionally rare to conceive at this age; however if you would rather continue after this age then you should discuss it with your GP. The average age at which women get to their menopause in the UK is 51 years.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/sexual-health/contraception-methods/contraception-for-the-mature-woman