How is perimenopause defined?

• A. The transition phase into menopause with irregular menstrual cycles until the final menstrual period.
• B. A phase with regular, predictable cycles.
• C. A period of life when fertility is at its peak.
• D. The time from menarche to ovulation.

Answer: (A)

Perimenopause is the transition into menopause, driven by fluctuating hormones, that causes menstrual cycles to become irregular and unpredictable as ovarian function declines. This phase continues until the final menstrual period, at which point menopause is defined by 12 consecutive months without a period. Regular, predictable cycles describe the years before this transition, peak fertility occurs earlier in life, and the span from menarche to ovulation refers to puberty, not the approach to menopause.