Take our quiz: Find out if you’re in perimenopause

What’s the science behind the Perimenopause Quiz?

As the first FDA Cleared birth control app, Natural Cycles has always been grounded in science and data. When it comes to this key stage in the fertility journey, we believe it’s so important to provide credible, expert-checked information that empowers you. 

There is plenty of misinformation out there when it comes to our health, and it’s not always easy to tell between evidence based tools, and menopause calculators with very little science behind them. Our perimenopause quiz is based on current scientific knowledge of perimenopause and the data you provide, including your age and cycle information. 

The quiz results are for informational purposes only and should not be considered a diagnosis and do not replace a consultation with your doctor, but they can be a helpful tool to start the conversation.

What is perimenopause?

Perimenopause is a transitional phase of life for those of us who have a period. At this point our body’s hormone levels fluctuate, as we approach the end of menstruation (menopause). During perimenopause it’s normal for menstrual cycles to become irregular and to experience a range of symptoms — more on those below. [1]

Perimenopause vs. menopause

You may hear the terms perimenopause and menopause used interchangeably, but these are actually two different things. Perimenopause refers to a timeframe of several years, while on the other hand, menopause refers to the last menstrual period. This can only be diagnosed retrospectively, after 12 months without a menstrual bleed.

In the United States, the average age for reaching menopause is 52. After this point, you enter postmenopause, and symptoms typically decrease during this time, but may linger for several years [1].

Symptoms of perimenopause

Hot flashes are the symptom many of us may think of when we think of menopause or perimenopause, but this is actually just one of a whole range of different changes we can experience in our body and mind during this time. Symptoms of perimenopause include:

• Body odor changes
• Brain fog
• Breast soreness
• Cycle changes
• Fatigue
• Frequent urination
• Hair loss
• Heart palpitations
• Insomnia/trouble sleeping
• Joint pain
• Low libido
• Mood changes
• Night sweats/hot flashes
• Period changes
• Spotting
• Weight gain
• Vaginal dryness and painful sex [2,3]



Just like everything related to our health, the experience of perimenopause varies vastly between individuals, and your journey through this transition won’t always look the same as your friends’. The severity of symptoms can also differ between individuals, with some people having only mild symptoms and others experiencing changes that are more disruptive to their lives. Note that it’s also possible to reach menopause without noticeable symptoms.

Menopause age calculators: Do they work?

While there are a number of menopause calculators our their claiming to predict the exact age you will reach menopause, these types of prediction tools are generally not considered to be scientifically accurate. 

There are a number of factors that can contribute towards when you reach menopause, including genetics, medical history, and your lifestyle [1]. However, everyone’s experience is different, and there is currently no way to know the age at which you will reach menopause. 

Science-backed insights from Natural Cycles

We hope you learned a lot about this important life stage and found our perimenopause quiz helpful. Natural Cycles is the first app of its kind to be FDA Cleared for use as birth control, but our mission extends far beyond contraception, to accompany women throughout their reproductive journey. As a regulated medical device, we take our role in women’s health seriously. With temperature-based ovulation prediction, tailored insights, symptom tracking, and more, why not find out how Natural Cycles can support you?