At the time of menopause, women who had previously enjoyed sex may develop vaginal dryness and pain with intercourse. They may also experience difficulty achieving orgasm. A milder version of this can occur in perimenopause, the time interval that precedes menopause. Perimenopause can last for three months or as long as ten years before menopause. The age at which natural menopause occurs tends to be similar to that of your mother.