PERIMENOPAUSE, or pre-menopause is a transitional stage ranging from two to ten years before complete cessation of the menstrual period. Its average duration is six years and most commonly appears between 35 to 45 years of age. During this period, a woman gradually starts decreasing estrogen levels which often causes unusual and unwanted physical and emotional changes.

The manifestations of perimenopause will vary in each individual, however, some of the most common symptoms are :

MENOPAUSE is the next stage when the ovaries stop producing estrogen, and fertility ends. For women with a uterus, menopause is signaled by not having a period for 12 consecutive months. Natural menopause occurs for most women between the ages of 45 and 55, although it can occur earlier or later. Menopause can also occur earlier if both of a woman's ovaries are damaged or removed. Whether menopause occurs naturally or because of surgery due to removal of the ovaries, all women stop producing as much of the hormone estrogen at menopause as they did before menopause.

The continued loss of estrogen at menopause can cause menopausal symptoms, such as: