Irregular periods are often one of the earliest signs of perimenopause. As hormone levels begin to shift, changes in your menstrual cycle become more common. Periods may become unpredictable in timing, duration, and flow. You may have a heavy period one month and only light spotting the next.
Estrogen and progesterone are the primary hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. Menopause causes these hormones to drop steadily. During perimenopause, estrogen levels may fluctuate unevenly, causing your periods to become more erratic. Menstrual cycles may shorten from the typical 28 days to anywhere between 21 and 26 days. You may also experience skipped periods for a month or two. These changes are a telltale sign of approaching menopause.
Once you’ve gone a year without a period, the perimenopause phase is over, and you’ve officially reached menopause.
For those experiencing disruptive symptoms during this transition, estrogen therapy, which comes in pill, patch, or cream form, remains the most effective treatment for relieving menopausal symptoms.