Hi and welcome to MM
Menopause includes the peri stage and a woman is still peri meno until she has had at least one year without a bleed if 54 or older. If periods stop before the age of 54, the peri stage can extend to up to 2 years beyond last period before a woman is deemed post meno. Some women, in the peri stage, get many months without a period and then the periods return for a few months. The peri stage is about Hormones fluctuating - periods become erratic, flushes come and go, mood swings etc
It's good that your GP is diagnosing based on your symptoms - a low dose of HRT can help to balance things through the tricky peri stage that can last quite a few years. DG x
