Perimenopause

“Perimenopause usually happens sometime in your 40s.
On average, it lasts four to six years,
but it can last from one to 10 years”.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

Perimenopause 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 FAQs: An Introduction To Menopause – Q. What Is Perimenopause? the North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:

“The gradual transition between the reproductive years and menopause is called perimenopause (meaning around menopause). It is generally a transition lasting many years and can be associated with shorter menstrual intervals, irregular menses, hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms”.4

In Menopause: Overview the (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:

  • “Perimenopause is when you have symptoms of menopause but your periods have not stopped. Perimenopause ends and you reach menopause when you have not had a period for 12 months”.5

First Sign

What is usually the first sign of perimenopause?

In Menopause: Symptoms – Common Symptoms of Menopause and Perimenopause: Changes To Your Periods the NHS explain:

“The first sign of the perimenopause is usually, but not always, a change in the normal pattern of your periods, for example they become irregular.

Eventually you’ll stop having periods altogether”.6

Physical Symptoms

What may some physical symptoms include?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Physical and Emotional Symptoms — Physical Symptoms the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

Perimenopause

“Physical symptoms may include:

  • Irregular periods
  • Hot flushes
  • Night sweats
  • Sleep problems
  • Sore breasts
  • Itchy, crawly or dry skin
  • Exhaustion and fatigue
  • Dry vagina
  • Loss of sex drive (libido)
  • Headaches or migraines
  • More pronounced premenstrual tension (PMS)
  • Aches and pains
  • Bloating
  • Urinary problems
  • Weight gain due to a slower metabolism”.7

Emotional Symptoms

What may some emotional symptoms include?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Physical and Emotional Symptoms — Emotional Symptoms the JH explain:

“Emotional symptoms may include:

  • Feeling irritable or frustrated
  • Feeling anxious
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Forgetfulness
  • Lowered mood
  • Mood swings
  • Feeling you can’t cope as well as you used to”.8

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:

“The menopause transition can have a significant impact on many women, with more than 75% experiencing menopausal symptoms and a quarter describing their symptoms as severe. A third experience long-term symptoms, which may last as much as 7 years or longer”.9

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 of progression toward menopause, such as menstrual irregularity, sometime in your 40s. But some women notice changes as early as their mid-30s”.10

In What Is Menopause? Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause – Perimenopause? the JH also note:

“Perimenopause usually happens sometime in your 40s. On average, it lasts four to six years, but it can last from one to 10 years”.11

Duration

How long can perimenopause last?

In What Is Menopause? What Is Perimenopause (the Menopausal Transition)? the Australasian Menopause Society elaborate on:

“Some women can experience menopausal symptoms for 5-10 years before their final menstrual period. Age at which a woman’s menopausal symptoms will start or how long they will last, is not able to be predicted”.12

Menopause

When does perimenopause stop and menopause officially start?

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

“Once you’ve gone through 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, you’ve officially reached menopause, and the perimenopause period is over”.13

Hormone Therapy

Can hormone therapy help improve symptoms of menopause?

In Mayo Clinic Q and A: Perimenopause Transitions and Concerns, dated 20 July 2023, the Mayo Clinic note:

“Although it is often a source of concern, hormone therapy also can help improve symptoms of menopause. Estrogen therapy is still the most effective treatment option for relieving hot flashes. Estrogen also helps prevent bone loss. There are also nonhormonal options. It is important to talk to your healthcare team about the risks and benefits of each treatment, and which one is right for you”.14

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:

“Talk to your doctor if you are worried about:

  • Irregular periods
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Bleeding after menopause
  • Increased premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms
  • Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, that interfere with your daily life”.15

In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your doctor about your options and the risks and benefits involved with each. Review your options yearly, as your needs and treatment options may change”.16

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. 5 Things You Didn’t Realise You Need To Know About Perimenopause
  2. 8 Myths and Truths About Menopausal Hot Flashes
  3. A Guide To Birth Control In Your 40s and 50s
  4. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists] [October 2023]
  5. An Online Survey of Perimenopausal Women To Determine Their Attitudes and Knowledge of the Menopause
  6. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  7. BMS TV: Menopause Explained
  8. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  9. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  10. Contraception and the Menopause
  11. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  12. Diagnosing Menopause
  13. Diagnostic Tests for Menopause
  14. Do My Period Changes Mean Perimenopause?
  15. Dr Louise Newson Breaks Down The Menopause & Lisa Snowdon Shares Her Experience | This Morning
  16. Dr Louise Newson: The Truth About the Menopause & HRT
  17. Everything You Need To Know About Perimenopause
  18. FAQs: Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
  19. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  20. Find An AMS Doctor [Australian Members and New Zealand Members]
  21. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  22. Heavy Bleeding
  23. Hot Flashes
  24. Hot Flashes
  25. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  26. How To Deal With Perimenopause Cramps
  27. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  28. How To Know If You Are In Menopause
  29. Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated
  30. It’s Not Alzheimer’s Disease: It’s Perimenopause
  31. 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
  32. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  33. 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]
  34. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  35. Mastering Midlife Mood Changes With Marlene Freeman, MD
  36. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  37. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  38. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Perimenopause Transitions and Concerns
  39. Menopause
  40. Menopause
  41. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  42. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – Stages of Menopause: Perimenopause
    Perimenopause
  43. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 1. What Is Menopause?
  44. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  45. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause Wellness
  46. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  47. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Understanding Menstrual Health and Menopause
  48. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: What Is Menopause?
  49. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  50. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  51. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  52. Menopause and Mental Health
  53. Menopause – Multilingual Fact Sheets
  54. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  55. Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition
  56. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  57. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP #256
  58. Menstrual Calendar
  59. Mood and the Menopause
  60. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  61. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  62. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  63. Night Sweats
  64. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  65. Peri-Menopause and Irregular Periods
  66. Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
  67. Perimenopause Usually Begins In Your 40s. How Do You Know If It Has Started?
  68. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Perimenopause Symptom Checklist
  69. Perimenopause
  70. Perimenopause
  71. Perimenopause: Rocky Road To Menopause
  72. Period Pain & Symptom Diary
  73. Self-Help Tool: Menopause and Mental Wellbeing
  74. The Reality of Menopause Weight Gain
  75. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  76. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  77. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  78. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  79. Vaginal Dryness
  80. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  81. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause: Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  82. Video Series-2023: Menopause and Heart Disease
  83. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  84. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  85. Video Series-2023: Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Menopause Experience
  86. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  87. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
  88. VITAL Research [VITAL Is the Virtual Registry of Peri-/Menopause In Australia]
  89. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
  90. Webinar: Perimenopause
  91. Webinars: Previous – Clinical Climacteric Conundrums
  92. What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Menopause
  93. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  94. What Is Menopause?
  95. What Is Menopause?
  96. What Is Menopause? [+ Video]
  97. What To Expect In Menopause With Dr. Pelin Batur
  98. Young Onset Dementia: Perimenopause and Menopause
  99. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
  100. World Menopause Day
    Perimenopause

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. What Is Menopause? Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause – Perimenopause? Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 12 October 2023
  2. Menopause: Key Facts. 17 October 2022. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause Accessed: 12 October 2023
  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: 12 October 2023
  4. 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: 11 October 2023
  5. Menopause: Overview. Page Last Reviewed: 17 May 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/ Accessed: 12 October 2023
  6. Menopause: Symptoms – Common Symptoms of Menopause and Perimenopause: Changes To Your Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 17 May 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/ Accessed: 12 October 2023
  7. Symptoms of Menopause: Physical and Emotional Symptoms — Physical Symptoms. Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms#physical-and-emotional-symptoms Accessed: 12 October 2023
  8. Symptoms of Menopause: Physical and Emotional Symptoms — Physical Symptoms. Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms#physical-and-emotional-symptoms Accessed: 12 October 2023
  9. 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: 12 October 2023
  10. Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 25 May 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666 Accessed: 12 October 2023
  11. What Is Menopause? Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause – Perimenopause? Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause Accessed: 12 October 2023
  12. 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: 12 October 2023
  13. Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 25 May 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666 Accessed: 12 October 2023
  14. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Perimenopause Transitions and Concerns. 20 July 2023. Mayo Clinic https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-perimenopause-transitions-and-concerns/ Accessed: 12 October 2023
  15. What Is Menopause? When To See Your Doctor. Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause/ Accessed: 12 October 2023
  16. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 25 May 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 12 October 2023
Topic Last Updated: 18 November 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 12 October 2023

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