The word “postmenopause” refers to the time after menopause. When you are in postmenopause, you have not had a menstrual cycle for more than 12 months. Your reproductive years are over, and you no longer ovulate (release eggs). Your previous menopausal symptoms may get milder or disappear entirely. Nevertheless, certain individuals continue to have symptoms of menstruation for a decade or more following menopause.
Postmenopause is the third and last stage of menopause. Maintaining your wellness throughout this time is critical for staying healthy and managing your risk of developing osteoporosis and other illnesses.
The postmenopausal period is associated with various health issues. It’s essential to understand these illnesses and take steps to lower your risk if you want to stay healthy during this new stage of life.
A woman’s menopause is a normal time of life. Your body ceases ovulating in middle age, which results in the cessation of monthly menstruation cycles. This transformation is brought on by your body’s changing hormone levels.
For women, the menopause typically occurs at age 51. Menopause can strike at any point during your 40s, 50s, or even 60s. Your body changes at a moment that is specific to you. Menopause is typically a perfectly natural stage of a woman’s life. A hysterectomy or other type of surgery may lead you to enter menopause earlier than expected.
Menopause consists of three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
Menopause
Menopause happens when you cease to produce the hormones that trigger your menstrual cycle and have not had a period for 12 months. When this happens, you enter postmenopause.
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the interval before menopause. It refers to a time when hormones begin to diminish and menstrual cycles become inconsistent and irregular. You might start experiencing menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
Postmenopause
It is the period of time after menopause. You enter postmenopause at this point and remain in it for the remaining years of your life. Postmenopausal women are more susceptible to heart disease and osteoporosis, among other illnesses.
What signs and symptoms accompany menopause?
Menopausal symptoms are still present in most postmenopausal individuals. There is a decrease in the seriousness of symptoms. There are instances where they nearly vanish. Reproductive hormone deficiencies are the source of persistent symptoms.
Postmenopausal women may have symptoms like:
- Depression
- Changes in sex drive
- Insomnia
- Dry skin
- Weight changes
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Hair loss
- Urinary incontinence
- Vaginal dryness
- Sexual discomfort
- Cognitive decline
Consult your healthcare practitioner if your symptoms worsen or start to interfere with your everyday activities. They might want to be sure that there is no underlying illness causing these symptoms.
Your postmenopausal hormone levels won’t change after you reach this stage. Both monthly menstruation periods and the ability to become pregnant will cease to exist for you.
Why does bleeding occur after menopause?
Vaginal bleeding during postmenopausal is not a natural side effect of hormone reduction. In certain cases, vaginal dryness might result in minor bleeding or spotting after intercourse. In certain situations, it may suggest a disease such as endometrial hyperplasia or uterine fibroids, an infection such as endometritis, or malignancy. If you suffer any vaginal bleeding, contact your healthcare professional to have it assessed.
Will hot flashes disappear after menopause?
Some people continue to have hot flashes even after menopause. Hot flashes after menopause are caused by a reduction in estrogen levels. It is not unusual to have sporadic hot flashes for years following menopause. If your hot flashes are unpleasant or worsen, consult with your doctor to rule out other reasons.
Can doctors conduct menopause tests?
In order to rule out other medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders or ovarian failure, which often lead to overlapping symptoms, a doctor may prescribe testing during or after menopause. Tests may include a thyroid function test and blood tests to measure levels of estrogen and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The test findings can be used by doctors to assist identify a patient’s menopausal stage.
Risks related to postmenopause
Women suffering from postmenopause issues are exposed to certain health risks such as:
Heart disease
Heart attacks, heart disease, and strokes can be warded off with the help of estrogen. Additionally, postmenopausal individuals frequently become more sedentary, which raises blood pressure and cholesterol. After menopause, all of these factors taken together may put a woman at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. Your best chances of preventing heart disease include maintaining a balanced diet, quitting smoking, and engaging in regular exercise. Lowering your risk can also be achieved by managing diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Osteoporosis
Due to lower estrogen levels, bone loss occurs more quickly in women after menopause. During menopause, you might lose up to 25% of your bone mass (1% to 2% every year). The risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures rises when there is excessive bone loss. Most often affected are the hip, wrist, and spine bones. One way to find out how much calcium is in different sections of your bones is to undergo bone mineral density testing, commonly known as bone densitometry. Both osteoporosis and osteopenia, a condition that precedes osteoporosis, can be identified using this test.
Vaginal atrophy
Your vagina becomes dry due to the thinning and deteriorating of the tissues brought on by low estrogen levels. Vaginal dryness can be a problem for postmenopausal women for years following their last menstruation. Vaginal lubricants can assist reduce any discomfort that comes with having intercourse. In addition to having an effect on the bladder and urinary system, decreased estrogen levels can cause urinary leakage in certain individuals. Your healthcare professional should assess painful sex and persistent dryness to rule out other diseases. Vaginal dryness can be alleviated by topical lotions, lubricants, and laser treatment.
Mental issues
Postmenopausal moodiness, anxiety, and sadness are common. Stress, tense sexual relations, or other obstacles in life that arise during this period might be the reason of this. The end of their reproductive years brings sadness to some people. Reduced hormone levels might also be the cause of mood problems. Speaking with a therapist or counselor about your feelings might be beneficial.
Infertility
A woman’s ovaries stop producing eggs after they reach postmenopause, making it impossible for them to conceive naturally.
A woman can use donor eggs or eggs she had frozen before menopause to attempt conception after menopause. To assist the body get ready for implantation and full-term pregnancy, they will also need hormone treatment. In order to ascertain whether or not IVF post menopause is a viable choice for them, individuals might speak with a fertility specialist.
Is it possible to conceive after menopause?
After more than a year without a menstrual cycle, you are not likely to become pregnant. If you wish to avoid becoming pregnant, keep using birth control until your doctor confirms you are not ovulating and are not capable of getting pregnant.
Do postmenopausal women lose interest in having sex?
No, menopause does not cause everyone to lose interest in having sex. Intimacy might be less enjoyable if there is vaginal dryness or pain. For dryness, using vaginal lubrication might be helpful. Some people’s symptoms, such as fatigue or sadness, make them less interested in having sex. Seek assistance from your healthcare practitioner if your thoughts about sex have changed.
After menopause, how frequently should you visit my doctor?
Even if you are not menstruating, you should still schedule routine gynecological care visits with your healthcare physician. Mammograms, pelvic examinations, breast exams, and Pap tests fall under this category. You have to keep making yearly checkups for well-being. Considering your heightened susceptibility to osteoporosis, healthcare professionals typically advise bone density exams in addition. Based on your medical history, discuss with your healthcare practitioner how frequently you should schedule check-ups.
One commonly prescribed medication for postmenopausal women with breast cancer is an aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase inhibitors work by blocking the enzyme aromatase, which converts androgens into estrogen. Since estrogen can fuel the growth of some breast cancers, inhibiting its production can help slow or stop the cancer’s progression.
postmenopausal medication for breast cancer
- Anastrozole (Armotraz 1 mg)
- Letrozole (Femara)
- Exemestane (Aromasin)
Treatment for postmenopausal issues
If postmenopausal symptoms become intolerable for a woman, she should consult a doctor. Physicians frequently advise the following techniques for relief:
Hormone replacement therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has proven to be a successful treatment for many individuals, since a reduction in estrogen may be a contributing factor to postmenopausal symptoms. Physicians could advise progestin and estrogen treatment in combination. The synthetic version of progesterone is called progestin. Furthermore, transdermal estrogen administration may potentially boost bone density while preventing osteoporosis.
Prolonged HRT use is linked to an increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Nonetheless, short-term therapy is frequently helpful in addressing postmenopausal symptoms.
Bioidentical hormones
Since bioidentical hormones are a relatively new option to hormone replacement therapy, many people believe that this method is more “natural” than HRT. Synthetic hormones known as “bioidenticals” have the same chemical makeup as an individual’s biological hormones. The FDA has authorized several variants, but none of the compounded versions have been approved as of yet. Bioidentical hormones do not appear to be any more beneficial or safe than conventional hormone treatment.
Vaginal estrogen
Menopause and postmenopause are often accompanied by vaginal atrophy, and vaginal estrogen may help restore the vagina’s lubricant. For some who find that traditional lubricants do not provide relief, vaginal estrogen may be beneficial. Treatment for vaginal symptoms using low-dose vaginal estrogen, such as creams, rings, and tablets, is less risky than hormone replacement therapy.
Low dosage of antidepressants
Many people go through menopause and postmenopause with psychological changes and difficulties. Low-dose antidepressants may be prescribed by doctors to assist patients manage their anxiety or depression. Studies indicate that antidepressants are a useful therapy for menopausal depression and related symptoms.
Supplements
In order to reduce postmenopausal symptoms, some people might think about taking vitamins or supplements. Although their effects are mostly unknown, supplements could affect postmenopausal systems. Popular natural therapies, vitamins, and supplements that women take after menopause include:
Black Cohosh – Among supplements for menopause, black cohosh has been studied the most. The North American black cohosh plant’s roots are used to make it. Several trials comparing it to a placebo (a fictitious therapy) have revealed that it helps, particularly with vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes. However, no advantage has been shown in other investigations. If you are experiencing liver issues, avoid using it.
Flaxseeds – Some women who have moderate menopausal symptoms may find relief from flaxseed and flaxseed oil. It has lignans, which have the ability to regulate female hormones, in good amounts. These advantages in reducing vasomotor symptoms like night sweats.
Calcium and vitamin D – After menopause, hormone levels diminish, and bone loss can become a major problem. It’s critical to consume adequate calcium. Women under 51 require 1,000 mg of calcium daily. Women who are 51 and older require 1,200 milligrams each day. For healthy bones, vitamin D is equally as vital as calcium. Your body can’t absorb calcium if you don’t have vitamin D. A typical adult needs 600 IU each day. People aged 71 and above require 800 IU daily. In addition to meals and pills, sunlight is another source of vitamin D.
Wild yam – Menopause patients are increasingly turning to wild yam pills and lotions as an alternative to hormone treatment. Though it’s probable that some of the naturally occurring molecules in these yams are not active in humans, they do seem to resemble progesterone and estrogen. Clinical research has not yet shown that they reduce menopausal symptoms.
Summary
Following the complete halt of the menstrual cycle for a minimum of 12 months, the third stage of menopause is known as postmenopause. The perimenopause and menopause recurrent symptoms may be relieved for many individuals during the postmenopause stage. Doctors may recommend a range of therapies for some symptoms that persist beyond menopause.