Found in the spellings of Atkinson, Aitchison, Acheson, Aicheson, and Aitcheson, it is as a patronymic form of the medieval male given name Atkin or Adkin, itself a double diminutive of the Hebrew name 'Adam', meaning 'red earth'.
But for natural conception, age rarely keeps women from getting pregnant until they are over 40. Even in their early 40s, though, most women are still able to get pregnant, especially if they use ovulation prediction.
The menopause is when a woman stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. Periods usually start to become less frequent over a few months or years before they stop altogether. Sometimes they can stop suddenly. The menopause is a natural part of ageing that usually occurs between 45 and 55 years of age, as a woman's oestrogen levels decline.