What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause means around menopause, more specifically the years (as many as 8+) prior to and the 12 months after the final menstrual period which signals menopause. Perimenopause is a time of ovarian aging and fluctuating hormones which is different for every woman.
Until recently, perimenopause was identified by very noticeable changes to menstrual cycles (i.e., irregular cycles or skipped periods). However, recent research — ours and others — has documented the experiences of women still having monthly periods who have many of the same symptoms as those who have already noticed significant changes to their menstrual cycles. This research suggests perimenopause begins earlier than previously thought, even before very noticeable changes to menstrual cycles happen — exactly what women have been reporting.
Note: We use “symptoms” but perimenopause is not a disease — it’s a normal life transition that everyone born with ovaries will make.
Learn about the four primary hormones that govern the menstrual cycle.
Wondering if what you are experiencing could be perimenopause?
Tracking your cycle can be empowering to understanding what’s going on in your body.
Common Symptoms During Perimenopause
Learn about perimenopause and the 12 most common symptoms reported by women ages 35-55 in longitudinal studies.
Dive deeper
We were thrilled when this piece from NPR came out reporting that perimenopause can start younger than you think
A very thorough article about perimenopause by Robin Henig for Oprah Daily
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