03/17/2026
As a woman reaches perimenopause, she may start to notice changes in her body - including her cycle. Perimenopause is the transitional, 4-to-10-year phase leading to menopause, typically occurring in a woman's 40s (sometimes 30s) as estrogen levels fluctuate and decline.
Common symptoms include irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes.
Learn more about what to expect and what is normal here.
As menopause approaches, menstrual cycles may vary by a week or more in one direction or another, but in general, cycles move further apart. This marks the stage known as perimenopause.