Final answer:
During menopause, menstrual periods become irregular and vary in severity. While the risk of pregnancy diminishes, it is still possible until menopause is complete. Other symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings.
Step-by-step explanation:
As a woman approaches menopause, the typical experience is that menstrual periods may become irregular and vary in severity, which aligns with option b in your question. During the menopausal transition or peri-menopause, levels of estrogen and progesterone fluctuate leading to various symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, mood swings, difficulty focusing, and changes in hair growth patterns. It is important to note that while fertility declines, a woman can still become pregnant until menopause is complete; therefore, option d is not entirely accurate.
Furthermore, the reduction in the level of progesterone during peri-menopause can lead to abnormal growth, or hyperplasia, of the endometrium, which may increase the risk of endometrial cancer. It's also possible to develop benign conditions like uterine fibroids and experience irregular bleeding. Regarding option c, the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is not directly linked to menopause.