Perimenopause or “climacteric” is a period of gradual changes leading into menopause. This process may be steady or on and off again for years. During this time, women experience fluctuations in hormones creating puberty like changes for women.

Menopause is the term used for defining the time of life when a woman has her last period. The ovaries stop producing the hormone estrogen, causing menstruation to stop. This is a natural occurrence, although it can also occur when a woman has her ovaries removed or damaged. Most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 to 60, although it can happen earlier.