Before your periods stop completely, your body makes the transition to menopause in a phase called perimenopause, which could last 2 to 10 years. During this time, there can be all kinds of changes in your cycle. Here's what to expect:
What You Can Expectand progesterone can make periods unpredictable. They could come more frequently. Or they might happen less often. The flow might be very heavy or -- preferably -- very light. Sometimes, you'll skip one or a few altogether. Other period symptoms, like cramps and crankiness, could become more intense.
Or you may not get the telltale"Because it's unpredictable, it can be very difficult for women because they don't know exactly when it's coming," says JoAnn Pinkerton, MD, director of the Division of Midlife Health at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville.A healthy lifestyle can help ease the transition into menopause.