When does Perimenopause Happen?
Perimenopause happens before you reach menopause. During this period, the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries starts to fluctuate. The estrogen levels rise or fall abnormally during the 28-day menstrual cycle. This hormonal change is what causes the symptoms observed during this time.
As perimenopause progresses, the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries becomes progressively smaller. At this stage, it is still possible to get pregnant if the estrogen levels haven’t dropped too much, but it may be difficult.
Perimenopause may last a few months or take up to a couple of years [16]. According to Cleveland Clinic [17], the hormonal changes characteristic of perimenopause can start up to eight or 10 years before menopause starts. This is usually in a female’s 40s, but it can also begin in the 30s. During the last two years of perimenopause, the drop in estrogen accelerates and the symptoms become more pronounced.