I had been experiencing irregular periods but thought age and seven previous pregnancies might have kicked them out of balance. I visited the doctor and went for testing. Subsequent urine and blood tests showed my FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) was high which in my case were indicating menopause and not ovulation, and was diagnosed with perimenopause. Five years later I'm in full-on menopause. I did a lot of research online after my diagnosis as I wanted confirmation of my doctor's opinion and to understand what was happening to my body and what I could do to ease my way through this new stage of life.