Perimenopause and menopause
Perimenopause and menopause are not the same, although in practice they are often confused.
Menopause is identified retrospectively as the point when 12 consecutive months without bleeding have passed since the last period.
Perimenopause, on the other hand, is the period preceding menopause, also referred to as the menopausal transition, during which the hormonal activity of the ovaries gradually changes. It is characterized by irregular ovulation and menstrual cycles, and its length varies. It usually lasts 4–5 years, but in some women it may begin even 10 years before actual menopause.
Symptoms of perimenopause may include:
- irregular cycles,
- less frequent ovulation,
- variable length of intervals between periods,
- heavier or lighter bleeding than before,
as well as vasomotor and neuropsychological symptoms such as:
- hot flashes,
- night sweats,
- sleep disturbances,
- mood swings,
- anxiety,
- irritability,
- reduced concentration,
- the so-called brain fog.
From a clinical standpoint, long-term observation of the cycle is particularly important, including assessing whether ovulation actually occurs, how often it appears in consecutive cycles, and exactly when it takes place.
Remember that menstruation does not mean ovulation has occurred!
Tracking basal body temperature (BBT) over many consecutive cycles can help capture the variability characteristic of perimenopause and provide valuable insight into the ovulatory rhythm, which becomes less predictable during this period. Such observation often has greater practical value than interpreting a single hormone test performed in one cycle. During the transition, hormone levels and ovulatory activity can change markedly from month to month.
Cyclical home dating of ovulation does not replace medical diagnostics, but it is a valuable complement to the assessment of hormonal balance.
