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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Perimenopause, also called the menopausal transition, is the interval in which a woman's body makes a natural shift from more-or-less regular cycles of ovulation and menstruation toward permanent infertility, or menopause.

Women start perimenopause at different ages. In your 40s, or even as early as your 30s, your may start noticing the signs. Your periods may become irregular — longer, shorter, heavier or lighter, sometimes more and sometimes less than 28 days apart. You may also experience menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep problems and vaginal dryness. Treatments are available to help ease these symptoms.

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

Symptoms

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References
  1. Perimenopause. National Women's Health Information Center. http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/perimenopause.cfm. Accessed Aug 3, 2010.
  2. Lund KJ. Menopause and the menopausal transition. Medical Clinics of North America. 2008;92:1253.
  3. Casper RF. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of menopause. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed Aug 3, 2010.
  4. Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The menopausal transition. Fertility and Sterility. 2008;90:S61.
  5. Bradshaw KD. Menopausal transition. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3158526. Accessed Aug 3, 2010.
  6. Menopause basics. In: Menopause Guidebook, 6th ed. Cleveland, Ohio: The North American Menopause Society, 2006. http://www.menopause.org/edumaterials/guidebook.aspx. Accessed Aug 3, 2010.
  7. The changing body. In: Menopause Guidebook, 6th ed. Cleveland, Ohio: The North American Menopause Society, 2006. http://www.menopause.org/edumaterials/guidebook.aspx. Accessed Aug 3, 2010.
  8. Chen EC, et al. Menstrual disturbances in perimenopausal women: What's best? Journal of Family Practice. 2009;58:331c.
  9. Borrelli F, et al. Alternative and complementary therapies for the menopause. Maturitas. 2010;66:333.
  10. Menopausal symptoms and CAM. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://www.nccam.nih.gov/health/menopause/menopausesymptoms.htm. Accessed Aug 5, 2010.
  11. Bauer BA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Rochester, Minn. Aug 16, 2010.
  12. Alfhaily F, et al. Acupuncture in managing menopausal symptoms: Hope or mirage? Climacteric. 2007;10:371.
  13. Cho SH, et al. Acupuncture for vasomotor menopausal symptoms: A systematic review. Menopause. 2009;16:1065.
  14. Daley AJ, et al. Exercise to reduce vasomotor and other menopausal symptoms: A review. Maturitas. 2009;63:176.
  15. Tremblay A, et al. Psychoeducational interventions to alleviate hot flashes: A systematic review. Menopause. 2008;15:193.
DS00554 Sept. 16, 2010

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