What is perimenopause?

A working definition to check

Perimenopause is a stage tied to the menopause transition. For its signs, timing and treatment, read the perimenopause overview below, check that the government menopause basics page defines the stage the same way, and ask your clinician whether your symptoms fit it.

What to look at

The Cleveland Clinic perimenopause page covers age, stages, signs, symptoms and treatment. The Office on Women's Health menopause basics page gives a government health office's overview of the transition. For one symptom people ask about, the Menopause Society's hot flashes page shows how a society explains it.

A skeptic's question: do two sources use the same words for the same stage? Terms such as perimenopause and menopause are sometimes used loosely. Check how each source defines them before you compare.

How to confirm whether this stage fits you

Read how each source defines the term before relying on it.
Keep a short note of symptoms and when they happen.
Ask your clinician how they would tell whether your symptoms fit this stage.

A note on expertise

Comparing how published sources use the term perimenopause cannot replace an exam, and your clinician is the one to say what fits your history.