Perimenopause

Perimenopause

“Women start perimenopause at different ages.
You may notice signs, such as your periods becoming
irregular, sometime in your 40s. But some women…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Perimenopause Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Climacteric
  • Late Reproductive Stage (LRS)
  • Menopausal Transition/Transitional Phase
  • Menopause Transition/Transitional Phase
  • Perimenopausal/Peri-menopausal Changes
  • Perimenopause/Peri-menopause
  • The Transition To Menopause
  • Time Leading Up To Menopause

Definition

What is perimenopause?

DotS the definition of perimenopause may vary.

In Menopause: Key Facts the World Health Organization’s definition is:

  • “The menopausal transition can be gradual, usually beginning with changes in the menstrual cycle. Perimenopause refers to the period from when these signs are first observed and ends one year after the final menstrual period”.2

On page four in Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Terms [English] the International Menopause Society’s definition is:

“Perimenopause – the time before; around and just after the actual moment of menopause”.3

In Menopause: What Is  Perimenopause? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:

“Perimenopause refers to the time from when your periods start changing, or you start having menopausal symptoms, to one year after your final menstrual period (menopause).

Some people use the word menopause to cover the whole transition from perimenopause to postmenopause”.4

Start

When may perimenopause start?

In Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Women start perimenopause at different ages. You may notice signs, such as your periods becoming irregular, sometime in your 40s. But some women notice changes as early as their 30s or as late as their 50s”.5

Duration

How long can perimenopause last?

In Menopause: What Is  Perimenopause? the JH note:

“In Australia, perimenopause usually starts at around the age of 47. On average, it lasts 4 to 6 years, but for some women it could be shorter or longer”.6 

Stop

When does perimenopause stop and menopause officially start?

In Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the Mayo Clinic include:

“Once you’ve gone 12 months in a row without a menstrual period, you’ve reached menopause and perimenopause is over”.7

Sign

What is the most reliable sign you are in perimenopause?

The JH explain:

“The most reliable sign you are in perimenopause (that is, you are perimenopausal) is if your menstrual periods have become:

  • Irregular
  • Shorter or longer than usual
  • Lighter or heavier than usual
  • Absent for a few months”.8

In Menopause: How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Menopause? the JH also note:

“You have reached menopause if you haven’t had a period for 12 months.

It’s a good idea to start tracking your periods when they start changing, so you know when 12 months have passed since you last had a period”.9 

Symptoms

What may be some perimenopause symptoms?

In Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms, dated 22 August 2026, the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“During perimenopause, you may notice changes in your body. Some changes are subtle and others are more obvious. You might have:

  • Irregular periods…
  • Hot flashes…
  • Sleep problems…
  • Mood changes…
  • Vaginal and bladder problems…
  • Decreasing fertility…
  • Changes in sexual function…
  • Loss of bone…
  • Changing cholesterol levels…”.10

Common or Not

How common are menopausal symptoms?

In Menopause: Menopausal Symptoms the JH note:

“Around 1 in 4 women will have no menopausal symptoms. Around 1 in 4 women will have severe menopausal symptoms, which interrupt daily activities and quality of life. The rest (2 in 4 women) will have menopausal symptoms that range from mild and annoying through to symptoms that are difficult to manage”.11

Hormone Therapy

Can hormone therapy help improve symptoms of menopause?

On page three in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks – HRT Today – The Key Points, dated July 2026, the Women’s Health Concern, the patient arm of the British Menopause Society, include:

“If women start HRT around the time of menopause, the risk is very small and there appear to be cardiovascular and bone protective benefits”.12

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with perimenopause?

In Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor according to the Mayo Clinic:

“Some women see a healthcare professional for their perimenopausal symptoms. But others either tolerate the changes or don’t have symptoms that bother them. Because symptoms may be hard to notice and can happen slowly, you may not realize they are caused by perimenopause.

If any symptoms of perimenopause bother you, see your healthcare professional”.13

In Menopause: What Is Perimenopause? When To See Your Doctor the JH explain:

“Talk to your doctor if:

  • Feel very tired or fatigued (to rule out loss of iron from heavy periods)
  • Have symptoms that are interfering with your daily activities, including exercise and work, your relationships or your quality of life
  • Have increased premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms during perimenopause
  • You have concerns about your emotional or mental health”.14

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Perimenopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Perimenopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. 29 Perimenopause Symptoms You May Not Know About
    Perimenopause
  2. 5 Signs Perimenopause May Be Ending
  3. 9 Less Common Perimenopause Symptoms and How To Manage Them
  4. A Man’s Guide To Menopause
  5. Addressing Menopause Symptoms
  6. Are You In Perimenopause? Signs, Symptoms, and What To Ask Your Doctor
  7. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
  8. Complementary Medicines and Therapies for Hot Flushes
  9. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
    Perimenopause
  10. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  11. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding—When To See A Clinician
  12. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Three Symptoms Linked To Cognitive Complaints
  13. Could It Be Perimenopause? How Hormones Influence the Brain
  14. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Management
  15. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Menopause & Work Conversations – Episode 1
  16. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Menopause and Mental Health: Managing Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive Changes
  17. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Sleep Disturbances In Menopause
  18. FDA Grand Rounds: FDA Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Labeling: Historical Context & Recent Changes [June 2026]
  19. Find A Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  20. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  21. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  22. Finding the Right Hormone Treatments (HRT): Types, Doses and What Works
  23. First Symptoms of Menopause
  24. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  25. Guidelines and Education: EMAS Menopause Essentials [60 Fact Sheets Updated By the European Menopause and Andropause Society, 18 August 2026]
  26. HRT Questions Answered
  27. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
  28. Health.gov.au/perimenopause [Australia]
  29. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): A Summary
  30. How Perimenopause Can Really Impact You and Your Partner
  31. How To Manage Adenomyosis In Perimenopause
  32. How To Manage Menopausal Symptoms
  33. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Midlife Brain Fog
  34. How To Track Your Perimenopause Periods
  35. How Vaginal Hormones Can Transform the Health of Women
  36. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  37. Is It Menopause or Depression? How To Recognize the Differences and Find Relief
  38. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP] [Other Languages and Formats]
  39. Many Women Still Confused About Perimenopause
  40. Menopausal Symptom Treatments
  41. Menopause
  42. Menopause
  43. Menopause
    Perimenopause
  44. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  45. Menopause Symptoms That May Surprise You: What To Watch for During Perimenopause
  46. Menopause and Mental Health
  47. Menopause and Sleep
  48. Menopause – Is It Really A Pause To Health?
  49. Menopause: How To Talk To Your Doctor
  50. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  51. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  52. Menopause [Multiply Languages]
  53. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  54. Menopause: Your Choice of Language
  55. Menstrual Calendar
  56. Midlife Weight Gain
  57. Misinformation About Perimenopause on Social Media ‘Putting Women At Risk’
  58. Monitoring Menopause Symptoms
  59. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  60. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  61. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
    Perimenopause
  62. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – What Is Sleep, What Is Menopause and How Do They Interact?
  63. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – What’s Hot? Options for Treatment of Hot Flushes 2025
  64. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: Lifestyle Medicine
  65. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  66. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: The Perimenopause Journey: An Adaptive Reproductive Phase
  67. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Lifestyle, Diet, Exercise
  68. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  69. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Sponsored Symposia – Weight, Wellness, and Women At Midlife: Rethinking Obesity In the Menopause Transition
  70. Night Sweats
  71. Perimenopause
  72. Perimenopause
  73. Perimenopause
  74. Perimenopause
  75. Perimenopause Awareness Month [September 2026]
  76. Perimenopause With Dr. Heather Hirsch
  77. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  78. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Menopause Treatment
  79. Perimenopause and Menopause Toolkit
  80. Perimenopause and Menopause: Your Questions Answered
  81. Perimenopause and Your Fertility: What To Know
  82. Perimenopause, Menopause and Mental Health
  83. Perimenopause, PMS, and PCOS: All About the Period
  84. Resources: Fact Sheets [Multiply Languages]
  85. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing
  86. Surprising Menopause Symptoms | Dr Louise Newson Live
  87. Tackling Myths and Misinformation In Menopause
  88. Talk About Heavy Periods
  89. The State of (Peri)menopause 2026 The Hidden Emotional Reality of Perimenopause [Bonafide’s Sixth Annual State of Menopause Survey] [15 July 2026]
    Perimenopause
  90. The Surprising Symptoms of Changing Hormones: Live Q&A
  91. Understanding Perimenopause and Menopause With Dr Ramya Raman
  92. What Doctor Should You See for Perimenopause Signs
  93. What Is the Difference Between Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause?
  94. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning?
  95. Why Is Bleeding So Heavy?
  96. Why Is FSH Not Needed for Diagnosis of Menopause [Video]
  97. World Menopause Day 2025
    Perimenopause Perimenopause
  98. World Perimenopause Day [22 September 2026]
  99. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Don’t Suffer In Silence
  100. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Here’s What To Know

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 22 August 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666 Accessed: 01 September 2026
  2. Menopause: Key Facts. 16 October 2024. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause Accessed: 01 September 2026
  3. Glossary of Terms [English]. October 2022:4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMS-English-Factsheet-4-glossary.pdf Accessed: 01 September 2026
  4. Menopause: What Is Perimenopause?  Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-what-is-perimenopause Accessed: 01 September 2026
  5. Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 22 August 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666 Accessed: 01 September 2026
  6. Menopause: What Is Perimenopause?  Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-what-is-perimenopause Accessed: 01 September 2026
  7. Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 22 August 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666 Accessed: 01 September 2026
  8. Menopause: How Do You Know You Are In perimenopause? Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-what-is-perimenopause Accessed: 01 September 2026
  9. Menopause: How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Menopause? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-how-do-you-know-if-youve-reached-menopause Accessed: 01 September 2026
  10. Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms. 22 August 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666 Accessed: 01 September 2026
  11. Menopause: Menopausal Symptoms. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-what-is-perimenopause Accessed: 01 September 2026
  12. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks – HRT Today – The Key Points. July 2026:3. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/11-NEW-WHC-FACTSHEET-HRT-BenefitsRisks-JULY2026-A.pdf Accessed: 01 September 2026
  13. Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor. 22 August 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666 Accessed: 01 September 2026
  14. Menopause: What Is Perimenopause? When To See Your Doctor. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-what-is-perimenopause Accessed: 01 September 2026
Topic Last Updated: 03 September 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 01 September 2026

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
/by
Copyright © 2011 – 2026 Meno Martha®. All Rights Reserved. | The information provided on  Meno Martha, Meno Martha International Menopause Directory and/or menomartha.com is for informational or educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for or replace the medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of your qualified health care providers. | By using this service you accept Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Terms of Use which incorporate Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy. | Meno Martha® is a registered Trademark | Meno Martha International Menopause Directory® is a registered Trademark.
Meno Martha and/or Meno Martha International Menopause Directory do not sell, produce or endorse any products, services or content of any kind including pills or potions for ‘menopause symptom relief’. Please Contact Us if you see or receive any advertisements allegedly by, for or on behalf of Meno Martha and/or Meno Martha International Menopause Directory.