Menopause occurs when menstruation ceases for a period of one year - the ten to fifteen years prior to menopause is called perimenopause (and) Mood Swings "crankiness" is one of the symptoms you may suffer from during this time........ along with:

Hot Flashes - hormonal fluctuation
Cold Flashes
Irregular Cycles
Mood Changes - irritable, sad, worry, emotionally detached, anxiety
Sleep disturbance
Memory Changes - forgetting more "brain fog"
Urinary Difficulties - going more often, urge to go
Sexual Changes - Low sex drive, spotting after sex, dryness
Skin Problems - skin feels tingling, dry or burning sensation
Joint & Muscle Pains / Aches
Digestive Problems - heart burn
Heart - pounding or racing feeling
Ovaries - Benign Cyst

The average age of women whose menstrual periods have completely stopped is 52.