What describes perimenopause?

• A. Complete cessation of menses for 12 months
• B. Erratic cyclical bleeding and vasomotor symptoms signaling menopause
• C. Bleeding between periods during the transition
• D. Onset of menopause typically after age 60

Answer: (B)

Perimenopause is the transition before menopause, driven by fluctuating ovarian function and estrogen levels. This stage commonly features irregular, erratic menstrual cycles and vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats as the body moves toward permanent cessation of menses. It ends when a full year passes without a period, which defines menopause. The description that includes irregular bleeding together with vasomotor symptoms best captures this transition. In contrast, complete cessation of menses for 12 months defines menopause itself, not the transition; bleeding between periods can occur during perimenopause but doesn’t by itself define it; and starting this transition after age 60 is atypical, since perimenopause typically begins in the 40s to early 50s.