Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The period of a woman's life characterized by physiological changes associated with the end of reproductive capacity, terminating with the completion of menopause.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The physiological stage menstruating women go through when approaching menopause, when, due to hormonal changes, they progress from their usual pattern of menstruation through a phase of atypical menstruation, and finally cease menstruating. Perimenopause ends when a woman has not menstruated for a year.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Ancient Greek περί (peri, "about, around, near"). + μήν (men, "month") + παῦσις (pausis, "pause").

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Examples

  • A simple way to remember the perimenopause is this - "Perimenopause is hell".

    Menopause Defined aka TBTAM 2008

  • Hormonally, the perimenopause is characterized by fluctuating hormone levels and rising FSH levels.

    Menopause Defined aka TBTAM 2008

  • The entire transition period, which involves many physical and emotional changes for some women, is called the perimenopause “peri” means “around” and can last anywhere from one to ten years.

    OUR BODIES, OURSELVES The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective 2005

  • Not that I need donuts, of course, since my forgetfulness could also be attributed to perimenopause, which is also making me gain weight at a pretty scary clip.

    Darling Ducklings Manque Susan Palwick 2009

  • The transition to menopause, sometimes called perimenopause, is often a gradual process, involving the fluctuation of hormonal levels and some physical changes before the last menstrual cycle.

    Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause M.D. Vivian Pinn 2006

  • As we go through the menopause transition sometimes called perimenopause, our hormones fluctuate and our menstrual cycles may become erratic.

    Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause M.D. Vivian Pinn 2006

  • The transition to menopause, sometimes called perimenopause, is often a gradual process, involving the fluctuation of hormonal levels and some physical changes before the last menstrual cycle.

    Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause M.D. Vivian Pinn 2006

  • For the last thirty years, I have had increasingly healthy habits, and when I found out my perimenopause was a really strong one, I increased the healthiness of my diet and my exercise level in an attempt to override some of the symptoms.

    Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause M.D. Vivian Pinn 2006

  • For the last thirty years, I have had increasingly healthy habits, and when I found out my perimenopause was a really strong one, I increased the healthiness of my diet and my exercise level in an attempt to override some of the symptoms.

    Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause M.D. Vivian Pinn 2006

  • As we go through the menopause transition sometimes called perimenopause, our hormones fluctuate and our menstrual cycles may become erratic.

    Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause M.D. Vivian Pinn 2006

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