Irregular periods are one of the earliest symptoms of Peri-menopause and an indication that your hormone levels are beginning to fluctuate. Your periods may become longer and heavier or shorter and lighter.
When your ovaries start running out of eggs, your hormone secretion becomes erratic. Some months you may ovulate and some you may not. Oestrogen levels can rise sharply and then drop, which means you may miss periods or even have them more frequently, with a heavier flow than usual during some months. Your periods are likely to become increasingly irregular and unpredictable before eventually stopping altogether.
Try and keep track of your menstrual cycle and make a note of any significant changes. It is important to know when your last period took place, because once twelve months have gone by without a period, you will have finally reached menopause. It is worth remembering that over ninety percent of women who have not had a period for six months do not ever have another one.
There is still a possibility of becoming pregnant during this stage, so remember to take precautions.