Perimenopause vs. Menopause: Differences & Similarities

Perimenopause and menopause are two closely linked times in a person’s life. Perimenopause is the transition period leading to menopause, which is when you stop having your period.

You are considered to be in menopause when you haven’t had a period for 12 months in a row. On average, people enter menopause at 51 years old. The perimenopause transition can last for several years before that, usually starting sometime in your 40s.

Both menopause and perimenopause share many symptoms, like hot flashes and sleep issues, but they aren’t the same thing.

How long perimenopause and menopause symptoms last varies from person to person. For some, the symptoms are mild and manageable. For others, the symptoms are severe and can impact daily life.

The symptoms of perimenopause typically begin in your 40s and last 2-8 years. Symptoms are mostly due to declining estrogen levels. Estrogen levels can fluctuate quite a bit during perimenopause, which can cause mood swings and irregular periods. Perimenopause symptoms tend to be more intense than menopause symptoms, including more frequent hot flashes.

The main symptom of menopause is a lack of periods. You will be officially in menopause when you haven’t had a period for 12 months in a row. Some symptoms of perimenopause also overlap with menopause symptoms, including hot flashes and sleep disturbances.

Here’s what to know about the symptoms of perimenopause vs. menopause:

The main difference between perimenopause and menopause is that you still get your period during perimenopause, even if it’s irregular. When you are in menopause, you haven’t had a period for 12 months in a row and will not have another period ever.

Here are some other differences to keep in mind:

Ability To Get Pregnant

Perimenopause: Even though periods are irregular during perimenopause, you can still ovulate. During ovulation, an egg is released from your ovary, making it possible to get pregnant. For this reason, you should continue to use contraception in perimenopause.

Menopause: When you are fully in menopause and haven’t had a period in a year, you aren’t ovulating anymore and can’t get pregnant. Still, you should talk with a healthcare provider before you begin having unprotected sex in menopause.

Duration

Perimenopause: It lasts for a shorter time than menopause. You are in perimenopause for about 2-8 years.

Menopause: Once you reach menopause, you are in it for the rest of your life. Most people enter menopause around the age of 51. Depending on how long you live, you can spending 30 or more years in menopause, which may be about 40% of your lifetime.

Presence of Bleeding

Perimenopause: Your periods will be irregular. You might have a normal period one month and not have one at all the next month. Some people’s cycles become very short, with two periods within a short time frame. Your bleeding may also be light one month and very heavy the next.

Menopause: You will not have any periods after menopause. Once a provider has confirmed you are in menopause, it’s important to let them know of any bleeding you have, even if it’s light spotting or brown in color. Most people don’t have any bleeding after menopause, but if you do, you should reach out to your doctor right away so they can check for the cause.

Both perimenopause and menopause produce similar symptoms, including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleep issues. Besides their symptoms, the two phases have other things in common:

Treatment Is Available

Many people think that perimenopause and menopause symptoms are just something you have to put up with and get through on your own. However, there are several effective treatments for symptoms, including hormone therapy, antidepressants, and vaginal lubricants and moisturizers. Your healthcare provider can help develop the best treatment plan for you.

Lifestyle Modifications Can Help With Symptoms

For some people, implementing certain lifestyle modifications can help with the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. These changes can be used on their own or along with medications.

Some options to consider include:

• Lower the temperature of your room at night
• Keep a fan nearby or carry a portable fan
• Dress in layers
• Avoid or quit smoking, as smoking can increase symptoms
• Decrease alcohol intake
• Maintain a weight that you and your provider decided is optimal for you to reduce hot flash severity
• Try meditation and other relaxation practices to help with mood swings and hot flash management

Increase the Risk of Certain Health Conditions

Menopause and perimenopause can increase your risk of certain health conditions later in life. This is due to decreases in estrogen in your body.

Lower estrogen can cause higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels. These changes can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke as you age. Your risk of osteoporosis (weakened bones) also increases as you move through perimenopause and menopause.

Exercising, eating a balanced diet, and taking medication to treat any health conditions can lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and osteoporosis.

You can’t have perimenopause and menopause at the same time, as they happen one after the other.

Many people use the word “menopause” to mean both the time when you stop having periods and the transition to the end of having periods. However, the time leading up to menopause is called perimenopause. Menopause is what happens after you are done having periods.

People will go through both perimenopause and menopause, just not at the same time.

It’s common to experience uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, sexual issues, and vaginal dryness in the years leading up to menopause and in the first few years after menopause.

However, that doesn’t mean you should go through the stages without help. If your symptoms make it difficult to function in your daily life, you should contact an OB-GYN for support.

If you experience bleeding after menopause, you should reach out to your OB-GYN right away. They will help determine the cause and come up with a treatment plan. Bleeding after menopause is often harmless, but it can be a sign of cancer. Only a healthcare provider can determine this.

Many people lump perimenopause and menopause together, but they are two different things. Menopause is when you’ve stopped having periods altogether, and perimenopause is the time of changes that lead up to menopause.

Perimenopause and menopause can cause symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleep issues. Contact a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your symptoms.