“Perimenopause usually happens in a woman’s 40s
and on average lasts 4-6 years,
but can be as short as one year, or as long as 10”.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
DotS the definition of perimenopause may vary. On page four in Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Terms [English], published October 2022, the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) definition is:
The North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:
The Australasian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:
The (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:
- “Perimenopause is when you have symptoms before your periods have stopped”.5
Changes
What happens at perimenopause?
In Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: What Happens At Perimenopause? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:
Periods
Do a woman’s periods simply stop or not?
Not usually. The NAMS explain:
Signs and Symptoms
What are some common signs and symptoms of perimenopause?
In Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Menopause – Symptoms the (British) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) explain about Symptoms:
In Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: Symptoms the JH note:

- Hot flushes
- Night sweats
- Irregular periods
- Problems with falling asleep, staying asleep and sleep quality
- Breast tenderness
- Itchy/crawly/dry skin
- Exhaustion
- Trouble concentrating
- Vaginal dryness
- Loss of libido (sex drive – talk to your doctor about sexual function if this concerns you)
- Migraines
- More pronounced premenstrual tension
- Mood changes, such as feeling more teary and irritable. Anxiety may also occur
- Weight gain, despite no changes to diet or exercise, due to the metabolism slowing down”.9
Common or Not
How common are menopausal symptoms?
On page one in Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause one of the recommendations is:
Start
When may perimenopause start?
In Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
Duration
How long can perimenopause last?
In What Is Menopause? What Is Perimenopause (the Menopausal Transition)? the AMS elaborate on:
In Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: When Does Perimenopause Occur? the JH also note:
Menopause
When does perimenopause stop and menopause officially start?
According to the Mayo Clinic:
Therapies
What are some perimenopause therapies?
The JH explain:
Health Care Provider
What if I would like help with perimenopause?
If you would like help with perimenopause, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.
In What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor the JH explain:
- Irregular periods
- Heavy bleeding
- Bleeding after menopause
- Increased premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms
- Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, that interfere with your daily life”.16
In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Perimenopause?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
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
- Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
- Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
- Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
- Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- An Online Survey of Perimenopausal Women to Determine Their Attitudes and Knowledge of the Menopause
- Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
- Contraception and the Menopause
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
- Diagnosing Menopause
- Diagnostic Tests for Menopause
- Do My Period Changes Mean Perimenopause?
- Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
- Dr. Louise Newson Breaks Down The Menopause & Lisa Snowdon Shares Her Experience | This Morning
- Everything You Need To Know About Perimenopause
- Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
- Find An AMS Doctor [Australian Members and New Zealand Members]
- Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
- Heavy Bleeding
- Hot Flashes
- Hot Flashes
- Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
- How To Deal With Perimenopause Cramps
- How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
- How To Know If You Are In Menopause
- Is It Menopause or A Thyroid Problem?
- Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing [+ Video: Menopause Only Affects You Physically!]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
- Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
- Maintaining Your Weight and Health During and After Menopause
- Management of Depressive Symptoms In Peri- and Postmenopausal Women: EMAS Position Statement [European Menopause and Andropause Society]
- Mastering Midlife Mood Changes With Marlene Freeman, MD
- Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause & Herbs
- Menopause Explained
- Menopause FAQs: An Introduction To Menopause – Q. What Is Perimenopause?
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – Stages of Menopause: Perimenopause
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 1. What Is Menopause?
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause Wellness
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Understanding Menstrual Health and Menopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: What Is Menopause?
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
- Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
- Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
Menopause and Depression
- Menopause and Mental Health
- Menopause – Information for Partners – Fact Sheet
- Menopause – Multilingual Fact Sheets
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
- Menstrual Calendar
- Mood and the Menopause
- My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms In Depth
- Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
- Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
- Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
- Night Sweats
- Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
- Oestrogen and Cognition In the Perimenopause and Menopause
- Peri-What? Know Your Perimenopause
- Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
- Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
- Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause and Depression
- Perimenopause – Fact Sheet
- Perimenopause: How To Manage the Change Before ‘The Change’
- Perimenopause: Rocky Road To Menopause
- Period Pain & Symptom Diary
- Shop-Bought Menopause Tests Not Worth It, Women Advised
- Supporting Women Through Menopause – Fact Sheet
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
- Vaginal Dryness
- Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
- Video Series-2022: Irregular Menstrual Cycles What’s Normal and What’s Abnormal?
- Video Series-2022: Perimenopause: Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
- Video Series-2023: Lifestyle Modification and Prevention of Breast Cancer
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
- Webinar: Perimenopause
- Webinars: Previous – Menopause and Work
- Webinars: Previous – Reproductive Conditions and Consequences for Menopausal Health and Management
- What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
- What Is Menopause?
- What Is Menopause?
- What Is Menopause?
- What Is Perimenopause and How Does It Affect Women’s Health In Midlife?
- Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
- Your Contraception Guide: How Do I Know I’ve Reached Menopause If I’m on the Pill?
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: What Happens At Perimenopause? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/perimenopause-fact-sheet Accessed: 19 February 2023
- 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: 19 February 2023
- Menopause FAQs: An Introduction To Menopause – Q. What Is Perimenopause? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-an-introduction-to-menopause Accessed: 19 February 2023
- What Is Menopause? What Is Peri-Menopause (the Menopausal Transition)? Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/185-what-is-menopause Accessed: 19 February 2023
- Menopause: Overview. Page Last Reviewed: 17 May 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/#when-to-see-your-gp Accessed: 19 February 2023
- Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: What Happens At Perimenopause? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/perimenopause-fact-sheet Accessed: 19 February 2023
- North American Menopause Society. Menopause Guidebook: 3. Menopause Signs, Symptoms, and Strategies – Changes in Menstrual Periods. 8th Edition 2015:9
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Menopause – Symptoms. Published Date: 12 November 2015. Last Updated: 05 December 2019. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/Menopause Accessed: 19 February 2023
- Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: What Happens At Perimenopause? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/perimenopause-fact-sheet Accessed: 19 February 2023
- Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:1 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 19 February 2023
- Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 07 August 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666 Accessed: 19 February 2023
- What Is Menopause? What Is Perimenopause (the Menopausal Transition)? Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/185-what-is-menopause Accessed: 19 February 2023
- Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: When Does Perimenopause Occur? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/perimenopause-fact-sheet Accessed: 19 February 2023
- Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 07 August 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666 Accessed: 19 February 2023
- Perimenopause – Fact Sheet: Treatment Options. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/perimenopause-fact-sheet Accessed: 19 February 2023
- What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 11 November 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause/ Accessed: 19 February 2023
- Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 17 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 19 February 2023