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Signs & Symptoms of Perimenopause

Women start perimenopause after menstruation and before menopause. It is the first of three stages of menopause and, according to womenshealth.gov, it normally occurs in women who are in their late 40s and early to mid 50s. Some women even start as early as age 35.

  1. What is Perimenopause?

    • Perimenopause is the two- to eight-year transition period that happens right before menopause begins. In this stage, women will still have a menstrual cycle, although it may become irregular, due to falling levels of estrogen.

    Uterine Symptoms

    • During perimenopause, the uterine lining starts to become thin due to low levels of estrogen. A form of uterine bleeding called uterine atrophy may happen due to the blood vessels bursting within these walls from the lack of a strong support.

    Vaginal Symptoms

    • During this stage of menopause, the vagina starts to become shorter, and the walls become thinner and dryer. Some women find it uncomfortable to have sex at this time, so they may use vaginal lubricants.

    Ovarian Symptoms

    • The ovaries begin to lose estrogen in this stage of menopause, causing the menstrual cycles to become irregular. Even so, women are still able to get pregnant at this stage in menopause.

    Other Symptoms

    • Other symptoms of perimenopause include sporadic menstrual cycles, heavy or light bleeding, mood swings, insomnia, restlessness and mild depression.

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