What is Perimenopause & It's Differences from Menopause

Perimenopause is actually the period of transition that leads up to menopause. Typically occurring around the age of 40 (or sometimes even earlier), it can last from two to fifteen years. There is no known method to determine exactly when you are already in perimenopause. The signs and symptoms (and tests, which will be fully discussed in other sections of this site) will be your sign posts, hinting  that you’re already in it.

While some women rarely experience extreme effects of the symptoms of the stage (especially women of Asian descent where it is said that perimenopause is but a memory to them), a lot of women still do. Irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, weight gain and mood swings are some of the common indicators.

As a woman ages, the ovaries tend not to function as efficiently. The body lessens its production of the
sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone), which causes a hormone imbalance that results in physical
and emotional changes. These differences are what we call perimenopause symptoms (all of which is discussed on this site.)

Perimenopause ends once you’ve experienced cessation of the menstrual period for 12 successive
months, which would bring you to the next level – menopause.

Premenopause, perimenopause and menopause—Which is Which?

The more familiar term for most women would probably be menopause. But premenopause and
perimenopause are often used confusingly and sometimes even interchanged with one another. But
these three are completely different:

• Premenopause. This is when a woman lives life “normally” – taking the kids to school, working in an office environment, being able to do housework, enjoying some time off with some friends, spending quality time with the spouse – doing everything without a care in the world. This is the time when you still have a normal period and your hormones are in perfect balance. (Also, when you’re in premenopause and you miss a period, you are most likely to be pregnant.)

• Perimenopause. In later life, a woman still does all the things mentioned during premenopause. This time though, she may begin experiencing several symptoms – irregular bleeding, some pains, mood swings and irritability, hot flashes, insomnia, etc. These can possibly hinder or disrupt her regular activities – due to pain and psychological changes.

As mentioned previously, this period may last from a short 2 years to a painful 15 years. Perimenopause may possibly start at the age of 35 for some, and in later years for others. But this stage is just a prelude to another phase women will eventually go through – menopause.

• Menopause. A woman goes through menopause usually between ages 45 to 55. She is considered menopausal once she has gone through 12 successive months of having no menstrual periods. Once she reaches this stage, conception is no longer possible.

Next Article: The Hormonal Imbalance: Hormones Gone Wild

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