Your perimenopause timeline and journey are unique to you. Here’s what to know about when perimenopause may start, and some strategies for identifying when you’re in perimenopause.
While perimenopause symptoms and experiences can vary greatly from one person to the next, there are certain commonalities across perimenopause journeys.
Based on both clinical data and the lived experiences of millions of people, we have an understanding of what the perimenopause timeline may look like.
So, when does perimenopause start? What are the signs and symptoms? Read on to find out what we know about when perimenopause starts, plus how you can tell if perimenopause has started for you.
What is perimenopause? First, it’s helpful to understand what perimenopause is and what’s happening in your body during this time.
Perimenopause, literally meaning “around menopause,” is a biological transition period. During perimenopause, your body begins moving out of your reproductive years and into menopause .
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Changes in key reproductive hormones are behind the biological shifts that drive perimenopause. Estrogen and progesterone decline over time, while luteinizing hormone (LH) rises over time.
However, your hormones don’t change at a steady, balanced rate. Instead, perimenopause is marked by fluctuating hormones—what’s elevated one menstrual cycle can just as easily be low the next. These hormonal fluctuations are what causes the perimenopause symptoms that many experience as they transition toward menopause.
When does perimenopause start? Timeline So when, exactly, does perimenopause start? Well, the perimenopause timeline is different for everyone.
Research shows that people generally start experiencing perimenopause, hormonal changes, and symptoms around their mid-40s . Data from long-term demographic studies indicates that 47 is the median age at the start of perimenopause.
Perimenopause can also begin earlier or later than the mid-40s, though. For some people,
perimenopause may start as late as the early-to-mid 50s . For others, perimenopause may even start in the mid-to-late 30s. (In some cases, signs that appear to indicate perimenopause in your 30s could actually be related to a hormonal imbalance , and you may want to check in with your doctor.)
To put it largely: perimenopause may start as early as your mid-30s and as late as your mid-50s, with somewhere in the mid-40s being about the average period of perimenopause onset. That makes for a pretty wide age range—decades-wide, even!
When perimenopause starts for you depends on your unique body. Lots of different factors play a role, too, including genetics, race, ethnicity, overall health, and lifestyle factors like smoking.
Whether you start perimenopause earlier, later, or right in the middle of the menopausal transition timeline isn’t usually cause for concern. However, you can always talk with your healthcare providers about your body and your perimenopause journey if you have questions.
How do I know when perimenopause starts? Recognizing when perimenopause starts can be tricky, in part because not everyone experiences it at exactly the same time or in exactly the same way.
Still, certain signs and strategies can help you pinpoint where you are on the biological timeline and identify when perimenopause starts for you.
The first perimenopause signs Your hormones work together in a complex balance to regulate different functions in your body. When perimenopause starts making your hormones fluctuate unevenly, the resulting instability can lead to perimenopause symptoms.
Recognizing common first signs of perimenopause may help you identify when perimenopause starts. Here are a few:
Irregular cycles spotting between periods , missed periods—anything is fair game with perimenopause periods.Hot flashes and night sweats Vaginal atrophy Other early stage perimenopause symptoms include brain fog , mood swings , joint pain , headaches and migraine , and changes in libido like a lower or higher sex drive.
If you’re experiencing discomfort from perimenopause symptoms, you’re not alone: up to 90% of people go to their doctor for help finding relief. Options for managing perimenopause symptoms include:
Using at-home perimenopause tests Recognizing the different signs your body gives you is one great strategy for understanding when perimenopause starts, and it also helps you stay on top of your health. Sometimes, though, these signs can be hard to decipher.
For a greater degree of certainty about whether perimenopause has started, you may want to consider at-home perimenopause tests .
Tests like the Oova at-home Perimenopause Hormone Kit measure your unique hormones to track real-time trends both day-to-day and cycle-to-cycle, giving you personalized insight into when perimenopause starts and how your body is changing over time.
Measuring your distinct hormone data can also help you and your doctors understand your perimenopause symptoms, and track how you respond to any treatment you may try.
Plus, for those trying to conceive, tracking your cycle and perimenopause ovulation can be a crucial part of getting pregnant during perimenopause .
When does perimenopause end? Just as the time when perimenopause starts varies, how long perimenopause lasts also varies. Generally speaking, perimenopause lasts about seven years . For some, perimenopause may be over in a few months. For others, perimenopause may last a decade or more—even up to 14 years (although this is rarer).
Factors like genetics, race, and overall health influence perimenopause duration. Your age when perimenopause starts also plays a role : starting perimenopause earlier may correspond to a longer (and more symptomatic) transition, while starting perimenopause later may bring a shorter transition.
>>MORE: Signs Perimenopause is Ending: 10 Symptoms and How to Get Relief
Once you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period, perimenopause ends and official menopause begins. For many people, menopause will start sometime in the mid-to-early 50s, with the median age sitting between 50 and 52 years.
When does perimenopause start: the bottom line Perimenopause can start anywhere from your mid-30s to your mid-50s. ayour perimenopause timeline and journey are personal to your unique body and life circumstances.
Signs like irregular cycles, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and brain fog may indicate that perimenopause has begun. At-home perimenopause tests can also help you understand when perimenopause starts.
Perimenopause is a natural transition period, but going through it can still be confusing. If you have questions or concerns about when perimenopause starts, or why it has or hasn’t started for you, your doctor can help.
