WellByNumbers.

The perimenopause stages, drawn

STRAW+10, the framework clinicians use, stages reproductive aging by three numbers: 7-day cycle differences, 60-day skips, and 12 months without a period. This is that timeline, drawn — with the thresholds where they apply.

−3 late reproductivecycles regular−2 early transitionconsecutive cycles differ ≥ 7 days−1 late transition≥ 60 days between periods+1a first yearafter final period+1b years 2–5final period (FMP)confirmed only after 12 months7-day rule begins transition60-day rule begins late stage
Your cyclesPatternStage
none12No period for 12 months or morePostmenopause (stage +1)
none311No period for 3–11 monthsVery late transition — confirmation pending
skip60A period skipped by 60+ days, then returnedLate menopausal transition (stage −1)
vary7Consecutive cycles differ by 7+ days, and it recursEarly menopausal transition (stage −2)
regularCycles still regular, no real changeLate reproductive stage (−3)
Which stage are you? The calculator → Symptom diary →

Common questions

What counts as the start of perimenopause?

In STRAW+10 terms, the menopausal transition begins when consecutive cycle lengths differ by 7 or more days and that difference recurs — not at the first hot flash, and not at a certain age.

When is menopause confirmed?

Twelve consecutive months without a period. Everything before that final period is the transition; the date itself is only assigned in hindsight.

Why do cycle rules matter more than symptoms?

Symptoms vary enormously between people; cycle-length change is the anchor criterion the STRAW+10 framework is built on. Symptoms are real and trackable, but they stage poorly — which is why our diary keeps them separate from staging.

Method

Stage definitions follow the STRAW+10 consensus report (Harlow et al., 2012, Menopause). The chart simplifies stages −5…−4 (reproductive) into one band; the transition and postmenopause bands follow the published cycle-length criteria exactly.