Perimenopause is the time before menopause when you still have periods (even if they’re very light or irregular). Menopause is not medically diagnosed until it has been 12 months with no periods. Perimenopause is caused by fluctuations in hormone levels before they steadily decline going into and after menopause.
Perimenopause lasts on average between 4-10 years, and the symptoms are the same as menopause including: fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, trouble sleeping, hot flushes, night sweats, joint and muscle aches and pains, low mood and mood swings, breast tenderness, and many others.