Stages of Menopause The word menopause is used in popular
culture to refer to the entire process of pre-menopause through
post-menopause. Your doctor may be more precise and use one or
more of the following terms: Physical signs of menopause begin
many years before your last menstrual period. Pre-menopause
refers to a woman's reproductive or fertile life, from the first
menstrual period to the last. It is frequently misused to
describe the years immediately before menopause (perimenopause)
or to describe premature menopause. Perimenopause refers to the
years immediately before menopause. Most people refer to
perimenopause when discussing menopause. While the average
timeframe for perimenopause is about four years, it can last up
to 10 years and still be considered normal. During this time,
your ovaries gradually stop releasing eggs and producing
estrogen and other hormones (progesterone, androgen,
testosterone). In the years before your final period, hormone
fluctuations occur and your periods become erratic.