Maybe you’ve noticed that your periods have become more unpredictable. Or perhaps you feel like you’ve suddenly stepped into the least-relaxing sauna ever (hello, hot flashes!).
These are just two potential signs of perimenopause. Perimenopause simply means the years leading up to menopause. You’re diagnosed as having gone through menopause when you haven’t had a period for 12 months.
During perimenopause, the amount of estrogen your ovaries produce begins to fluctuate. This can cause symptoms you might not have experienced before. But everyone’s unique, and not all people experience perimenopausal symptoms. That being said, here are a few common ones to look out for.
Key takeaways
- Perimenopause (the transition into menopause) will most often start in your 40s, but could begin anywhere between your late 30s and 50s.
- It will last for four years on average but could last for up to eight years.
- Perimenopause can cause a number of telltale symptoms, including irregular periods, hot flashes, poor sleep, vaginal dryness, mood swings, brain fog, and bladder problems.