Sometimes menopause begins with changes in periods, hot flashes, or loss of libido. You begin to wonder, "What is going on with my body?" All the signs point towards you entering menopause.
We hear “menopause” and we assume that we simply end menstruation and are menopausal. However, there are several stages of menopause before we are actually “menopausal.”
Perimenopause is the initial stage of menopause. According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), perimenopause occurs when the body begins to provide signals that that menopause is beginning. The crazy thing about perimenopause? Although it has begun, it can still be years until your final menstrual period.
The average age of perimenopause is 47, but there is some variability.
Menopause is defined by NAMS as “the spontaneous, permanent ending of menstruation that is not caused by any medical treatment.” A woman