Are you in perimenopause? Learn more from WebMD about the symptoms of the stage in a woman’s life before menopause.

Q: I am 49. Until recently, I’ve been having a very heavy, extended period. But lately, I haven’t had much of a period at all—until this month. This month it’s been very heavy and has lasted for three weeks.

What is perimenopause? Menopause is a term that refers to the permanent end of menstruation, and is the result of ultimate decline of sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone and others) produced in the ovaries.

Before reaching menopause, women go through a transitional period called perimenopause. Here’s how to recognize the symptoms of perimenopause and

During early menopause transition, the menstrual cycles remain regular but the interval between cycles begins to lengthen. Hormone levels begin to fluctuate.

Glossary Of Terms. We’ve compiled this comprehensive listing for you to find the definitions for terminology related to perimenopause, menopause and …

Around age 40, women’s bodies begin perimenopause, the transition leading to menopause (the point in time when you stop menstruating permanently). The hallmark of this transition is a change in the levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and the androgens. Yet this is not solely a physical event—it is also the biggest opportunity …

Discover effective treatments and learn self-care strategies for hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and other perimenopause symptoms.

The hormone fluctuations that happen in perimenopause bring about many changes. Learn about what to expect and how to manage the transition.

Q: I am 52 years old and have not had a period for three months. Now, my breasts hurt so bad I can hardly sleep on them. They’re sore and tender all the time. In the past, they have been sore right before my period for a couple days, but never for this long.