What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause refers to the time, after premenopause, during which the human body makes the natural transition to menopause. (1, 3)
Perimenopause is the second stage of menopause, after premenopause, and before entering menopause. (3)
What happens during perimenopause?
The level of estrogen in the body rises and falls unevenly during perimenopause. (1)
menstrual cycles may lengthen or shorten, and may even begin having menstrual cycles in which the ovaries do not release an egg (ovulate) (1)
may experience menopause-like symptoms, such as, hot flashes, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness (1)
chills, night sweats, sleep problems, mood changes, weight gain and slowed metabolism, thinning hair and dry skin, loss of breast fullness (2)
a dwindling ovarian reserve beings to take its toll on the female body, causing drastic fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone (3)
* fluctuation of hormones during perimenopause, women often find their hormonal imbalance symptoms – colloquially called menopause symptoms – to be the most intense. (3)
When does perimenopause happen?
Perimenopause begins in a female human in their early-to mid-40s. (3)
What are signs of progression toward menopause?
menstrual irregularity, sometime in age 40s but some women notice changes as early as their mid-30s. (1)
How long does perimenopause last?
Perimenopause normally lasts an average of four year, but can also be just a few months or as long as 10 years in length. (3)
After a person has gone through 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, the person has officially reach menopause, and the perimenopause period is over. (1)
What are perimenopause symptoms?
irregular periods (3)
mood swings (3)
hot flashes (3)
night sweats (3)
vaginal dryness (3)
loss of libido (3)
How to know if a female has entered perimenopause?
a perimenopause test (3)
Resources
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397
3. https://www.menopausenow.com/articles/the-4-stages-of-menopause
