Menopause is looked upon with both dread and relief. For some women, it symbolizes an end to youth. For others, menopause means emancipation from five days per month of tampon-related tyranny. Regardless of one's outlook, menopause is unavoidable to any woman who reaches midlife with her reproductive system intact. Some confusion exists regarding terms used to describe this period of life. An explanation of the differences between perimenopause and actual menopause can provide some illumination.
Menstruation
Menopause brings menstruation to an end, while perimenopause signals a transition through which menopause can begin. Perimenopause is a period of time during which a woman's menstrual cycle gradually prepares for menstruation to cease. This can take a rather long period of time---six years or more, according to University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System. During this period, menstrual cycles become more erratic. They can be heavier or lighter and less frequent, gradually ceasing entirely.
Actual menopause occurs on the day that falls exactly 12 months after a woman experiences her last menstrual period. In contrast to perimenopause's long transition period, menopause itself consists of this one life-changing day.
Hot Flashes
During perimenopause, women sometimes experience hot flashes. The torso and head can become suddenly flushed and hot. Night sweats are another form of hot flashes. These occur at night and can wake a woman from sleep and be followed by chills. With actual menopause, hot flashes usually end. So there's that to look forward to.
Decreased Fertility
As perimenopause continues, a woman's fertility declines. Decreased frequency of ovulation occurs, thus prompting the irregular changes in menstrual cycles. It is possible to get pregnant during perimenopause, though ovulation becomes more difficult to predict due to fluctuating hormone levels. The University of Michigan Health System explains that some women continue to take birth control pills during perimenopause in order to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of symptoms related to this transitional period. Once actual menopause has occurred, pregnancy is no longer possible without medical intervention.
Mood Swings
The erratic hormonal surges that occur during perimenopause can prompt erratic emotional surges as well. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists explains that mood swings, memory lapses and poor concentration often plague women who are experiencing perimenopause, even when their periods continue to remain on a normal monthly cycle. Once menopause occurs, these moments of emotional turmoil typically subside.
