Skip to main content

Perimenopausal Hormonal Shifts

Meaning

The dynamic and often erratic fluctuations in reproductive hormone levels, primarily estradiol and progesterone, that characterize the transitional phase leading up to the final menstrual period. These shifts are driven by declining ovarian function and result in a variable hormonal milieu. Clinically, these changes manifest as irregular cycles, vasomotor symptoms, and neurocognitive alterations, reflecting the body’s adaptation to a new endocrine state.