Menopause basics

Tier 1: Established: peer-reviewed research or government health authority
Publisher: Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services · Published: August 2, 2026 · Accessed: August 2, 2026

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Claims this source supports

• Perimenopause is the transition before menopause, typically starting in the mid-to-late 40s and lasting about four years on average.
• Menopause is confirmed only after 12 consecutive months without a period.
• You can still get pregnant during perimenopause, even if you miss your period for a month or a few months; during perimenopause you may still ovulate, or release an egg, on some months.
• It is impossible to know for sure when you will ovulate during perimenopause; if you do not want to get pregnant, continue using birth control until one full year after your last period.
• Health care providers do not usually recommend hormone-level blood tests to gauge menopause status, because for most women hormone levels go up and down unpredictably during the transition; a single blood test cannot reliably tell where you are in the transition.