How do I know if I am in perimenopause?

The most common sign that you may be in perimenopause is a change in your menstrual cycle: periods may become irregular, shorter or longer, heavier or lighter, or you may skip periods altogether.[1][2][7] Other common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, mood changes, vaginal dryness, low libido, and urinary urgency.[1][2][3]

A few practical clues can help:

• If your cycle length is consistently different by 7 days or more, Mayo Clinic says that can indicate early perimenopause.[2]
• If you go 60 days or more between periods, that suggests late perimenopause.[2]
• Perimenopause can start years before menopause, and symptoms can happen even if your periods are still regular.[2][5]

You should also consider other causes if your bleeding is very heavy, prolonged, or unusual for you, because those symptoms can warrant medical evaluation.[2][5]

If you want, I can help you compare your symptoms to the typical perimenopause pattern or tell you when it’s a good idea to see a clinician.