Postmenopause
Postmenopause is the time after a woman's final menstrual period. It marks the end of a woman's reproductive years.
The term "menopause" refers to the point when a woman stops menstruating permanently. It usually happens between the ages of 45-55. The average age is 51. After a woman has gone 12 months without a period, she has reached menopause and entered the postmenopausal phase.
Some key things to know about postmenopause:
- Hormone changes
- During postmenopause, a woman's body makes much less estrogen and progesterone. These are the hormones that control menstrual cycles.
- The drop in estrogen can cause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes, trouble sleeping, and joint pain.
- The risk of certain health conditions increases after menopause because of the hormone changes. For example, postmenopausal women have a higher risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.
- Duration
- Postmenopause lasts for the rest of a woman's life after her final period. The early part of postmenopause is called the early postmenopausal transition. After that is the late postmenopausal transition.
- Postmenopausal health
- Getting regular health screenings and being proactive about health is important in the postmenopausal years:
- Get a bone density test periodically to check for osteoporosis
- Have your cholesterol checked annually
- Have mammograms as recommended by your doctor
- Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamins D and K
- Exercise regularly - weight-bearing exercises help strengthen bones
- Don't smoke - it increases health risks
- Sex and relationships
- Vaginal dryness can make sex painful, but treatments like lubricants and vaginal estrogens can help
- Open communication with your partner about your symptoms and changing body can help your intimate relationship
The symptoms of menopause and postmenopause vary a lot among women. Talking to your doctor can help you manage any symptoms that disrupt your life. While menopause means the end of fertility, it opens up a new phase of life. Managing health factors like diet, exercise, sleep, and stress levels helps many women thrive in the postmenopausal years.