What is the term for the interval of hormonal fluctuation and menstrual irregularity before menopause?

• A. Postmenopause
• B. Perimenopause
• C. Menopause
• D. Postovulatory phase

Answer: (B)

Perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause when ovarian function declines and hormone levels swing. Estrogen and progesterone production becomes irregular, leading to unpredictable or irregular menstrual cycles—cycles may be longer, shorter, or skipped altogether. This phase typically lasts several years and ends when a person has no periods for 12 consecutive months, at which point menopause is reached. Postmenopause refers to the years after menopause, when hormone levels remain low. The postovulatory phase is simply the part of a menstrual cycle after ovulation, not the broader transition before menopause.