Many women start experiencing menopausal symptoms during those years of perimenopause, such as irregular periods, fatigue, sleep disturbances, hot flashes and weight gain. For most women, periods don’t stop suddenly, although there are exceptions when menopause is induced by surgery or certain medical treatments that stop ovarian function. Perimenopause is the several years preceding menopause, so the most common age for women to begin perimenopause is in their 40s. During perimenopause, hormone levels fluctuate a lot, and a test one day may look very different than one the next. CNN: Where should people go for more information on perimenopause and menopause?

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Persons: Leana Wen, Wen, Perimenopause, Marcos Calvo, that’s, perimenopause Organizations: CNN, George Washington University, US Department of Health, Human Services, Women’s Health, Getty Locations: perimenopause