Is climacteric the same as perimenopause?

Yes, kinda: I tend to lump things together so i say yes. Others like to split things apart as distinct and say no. Menopause (also known as climacteric) is actually the time after missing 12 of your previously monthly menses. We refer to the several years during which you might complain of hot flashes, cold sweats & irregular menses, as peri-menopause. But we often lump topgether the whole period of time.