perimenopause

n. menopause transition period, period just before menopause which is accompanied by hot flashes and menstrual irregularity

The word menopause literally means the permanent physiological, or natural, cessation of menstrual cycles, from the Greek roots 'meno-' (month) and 'pausis' (a pause, a cessation). In other words, menopause means the natural and permanent stopping of the monthly female reproductive cycles, which is usually manifest as a permanent absence of monthly periods or menstruation.
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Perimenopause /peri·meno·pause/ the time just before and after menopause.perimenopau´sal per·i·men·o·pause n. [more]Perimenopause - Community and Resources