Perimenopause is simply the period of time that you are experiencing menopausal symptoms but your periods have not stopped. The symptoms you experience during this time are for the most part, the same as the symptoms you will experience during menopause once you periods have stopped completely. But, one of the first perimenopause symptoms is irregular periods. You may notice that your period comes after only 24 days rather than the normal 28, or it might take 32 days the next month. Another way that your period can be irregular is in the amount of flow you have. You might experience a particularly light period one month, a very heavy one the next and then a normal one the third. If you are in your mid forties or older and you start to experience irregular periods like this then you might want to visit your doctor because it is possible that you are starting perimenopause.