Perimenopause can start as early as your late 30s. I started having really fucked up periods then, flow-wise, hot flashes by the time I was in my mid-40s and then really sporadic periods by the time I was in my early-50s. Doctors would say I'm in full menopause, now, because it's been more than three years since my last period. I can't say that any one of you will follow the same pattern, but something similar. Zen, I had 2 periods a year for the last 2 years I had them. The last one I had I gave a stern look at the day it started and it whimpered and ran away. That was about 3-1/2 years ago.

huh ... mine just stopped, without much warning, when I was not-quite 46. Early, but then I started early ... there have been some side effects I'm not happy with, but it's nice not to have to worry about "accidents."

Yes, I was 47, which was early but I was told my early start (9) contributed to that. It was irregular for a year or two. Light and short.

As an aside on the hormone emotion link, my last period was 9/11/01. eta: I didn't realize until months later when I checked my log since it seemed like it had been a while.

My last one was last August, after a hiatus of a few months. I had a couple of hot flashes around that time, but nothing since. Mood is hard to gauge, what with everything else going on, but I haven't felt any major Change. It was such a grim occasion for our mother's generation.

I must admit, the middle stages for me is what unmasked my bipolar disorder. My doctor had given me antidepressants to help with the hot flashes, because she wouldn't prescribe hormone therapy. Only the antidepressants set free the manic side of being bipolar, so that's when I was finally diagnosed.

I didn't do any hormones because birth control pills made me miserable and I wasn't in any mood to experiment with any others. Honestly it was pretty uneventful. Some hot flashes, but many women have it much worse.

Birth control pills made me miserable and moody. I didn't realize until much later that it was the BCP, I'd gotten convinced that I was just "crazy". After that experience, I'm not keen to start taking replacement hormones. So far, I don't seem to need them. I had hot flashes for a year or so, but they seem to have stopped now, as have my periods. Last one was a couple months ago. It was almost nothing. I compared it to the Great Flood of Aught Six and laughed at it. I'm calmer and saner now than at any time in my life, which given how my moods have been lately, is saying something... I'm looking forward to menopause being over and discovering my real personality.

huh ... mine just stopped, without much warning, when I was not-quite 46.

Same here. My periods got irregular while I was helping Dad with his lymphoma and figured it was just stress. Turns out it was perimenopaus. I can't say I miss being fertile; it's not like I had any plans for it.

After a lifetime of irregular periods, they become regular as rain with turning 40. Also, my PMS became a thing. I probably should be medicated for those few days, but so far, I'm not.