Are there any health risks associated with postmenopause?
People in postmenopause are at an increased risk for several conditions:
Cardiovascular disease
Estrogen helps protect against cardiovascular diseases like heart attack, heart disease and stroke. It is also common for people in postmenopause to become more sedentary, which contributes to high cholesterol and high blood pressure. These factors combined can increase a woman’s risk for cardiovascular diseases after menopause. A healthy diet, not smoking and getting regular exercise are your best options to prevent heart disease. Treating elevated blood pressure and diabetes as well as maintaining cholesterol levels are also ways to lower your risk.
Osteoporosis
People lose bone more rapidly after menopause due to decreased levels of estrogen. You may lose up to 25% of your bone density after menopause (approximately 1% to 2% per year). When too much bone is lost, it increases your risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures. The bones of the hip, wrist, and spine are most commonly affected. Bone mineral density testing, also called bone densitometry, can be done to see how much calcium you have in certain parts of your bones. The test is used to detect osteoporosis and osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis.
vagin*l atrophy
Decreased estrogen levels cause the tissues in your vagin* to thin and deteriorate, making your vagin* dry. People in postmenopause may continue to struggle with vagin*l dryness for years after their last period. Using vagin*l lubricants can help ease any discomfort caused by sex. Decreased estrogen levels can also impact the urinary tract and bladder and make leaking urine a problem for some people. Persistent dryness and painful intercourse should be evaluated by your healthcare provider to rule out other conditions. Using lubrication and topical creams or getting laser therapy to the vagin* can help with vagin*l dryness.
Mental health issues
Many people in postmenopause experience moodiness, anxiety and depression. This could be caused by stress, sexual tension or other life challenges that occur during this time. Some people feel sad that their reproductive years are over. Mood symptoms can also be caused by decreased hormone levels. It might help to talk with a therapist or counselor about what you are feeling.
What can I do to prevent osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis isn’t entirely preventable, but you can take steps to strengthen your bones. Eating foods high in calcium like cheese, yogurt, spinach or fortified cereals can help boost calcium intake. Adding a calcium supplement can also help. Some people also need a vitamin D supplement because it helps their body absorb calcium.
What can I do to prevent cardiovascular disease after menopause?
The best ways to prevent cardiovascular diseases are to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and avoid smoking. Conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and having obesity are usually related to poor diets and lack of physical activity.
FAQs
Many symptoms are found related to postmenopausal syndrome: Hot flushes, irritability, mood swings, insomnia, dry vagin*, difficulty concentrating, mental confusion, stress incontinence, urge incontinence, osteoporotic symptoms, depression, headache, vasomotor symptoms, insomnia etc.
What are the worst post menopause symptoms? ›
After menopause, most may feel lingering postmenopausal symptoms, such as:
- Postmenopausal bleeding (irregular periods)
- Urinary incontinence.
- vagin*l dryness and sexual discomfort.
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
- Some patients may experience emotional changes or memory decline, although rare.
People in postmenopause can feel symptoms such as: Hot flashes and night sweats. vagin*l dryness and sexual discomfort. Depression.
What are the problems with postmenopausal syndrome? ›
The four core symptoms- hot flashes, poor sleep, genitourinary symptoms/sexual dysfunction, and mood changes were most commonly seen among menopausal women are referred to as postmenopausal syndrome.
Does your body go back to normal after menopause? ›
In postmenopause, symptoms of menopause may have eased or stopped entirely, but some women continue to have symptoms for longer. The change in your body's hormones however is a sign to keep looking after your health and wellbeing, and be mindful to listen to your body.
What are the symptoms of low estrogen after menopause? ›
Changes in estrogen levels
- Hot flashes, flushes, and night sweats are the most common symptoms of low estrogen. At times, blood rushes to your skin's surface. ...
- Mood swings are another effect of low estrogen. You may feel sad, anxious, or frustrated. ...
- Thinning tissues may cause discomfort. Skin may appear more wrinkled.
Menopause symptoms typically last for around 4 years after a person's last period. However, the frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms vary. Common symptoms include hot flashes, low mood, and weight changes.
What is the average age for post menopausal? ›
Most women reach this milestone somewhere between ages 45 and 55. Once your period has stopped for 12 months, you are considered in menopause and enter the postmenopause stage of life.
How to tell if you're post-menopausal? ›
Women are considered to be postmenopausal when they have not had their period for an entire year. Having your doctor measure your follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level is another way to see if you are near menopause. FSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland (located at the base of the brain).
What is the timeline for postmenopausal? ›
Symptoms last for 1–2 years after menopause in most women, but may continue for up to 10 years or longer in others. Hot flushes are the primary reason women seek care at menopause. Hot flushes not only disturb women at work and interrupt daily activities, but also disrupt sleep.
Hormone therapy is most often used to treat common menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and vagin*l discomfort. Hormone therapy has also been proved to prevent bone loss and reduce fracture in postmenopausal women.
How do you cope with postmenopause? ›
Staying healthy after menopause
- If you are thinking about hormone replacement therapy, discuss the risks and benefits with your healthcare provider first.
- Don't smoke. ...
- Exercise regularly. ...
- Maintain a healthy weight through a balanced, low-sugar diet.
- Control high blood pressure with medicine or lifestyle changes.
People with menopause-related fatigue may feel they have less energy than usual. This may need to take more breaks while doing tasks, find activities such as walking upstairs more exerting, or take longer to recover from exercise. Fatigue can affect people mentally, too.
Why do I feel so bad after menopause? ›
Falling estrogen and progesterone levels can trigger mood swings that make you less able to cope with things you'd normally let roll off your back. For some, these hormonal dips can set off a depressive episode, especially for those who've gone through major depression in the past.
Can menopause cause weird symptoms? ›
Menopause causes major hormone shifts that impact virtually every part of your body, yielding a huge range of symptoms. Some of them are so unique that you might not even associate them with menopause. That includes changes in body odor, odd skin sensations, asthma attacks, and more.
What are the more severe symptoms of menopause? ›
It can also cause a host of other troublesome symptoms, including insomnia, muscle aches, vagin*l dryness, heart palpitations, and mood changes.
At what stage of menopause are symptoms worse? ›
Menopause symptoms have been shown to stay the same, regardless of whether someone experiences natural menopause or has it triggered by clinical treatment (for example, cancer treatment). Generally speaking, menopause symptoms are at their worst during the 12 months after the final menstrual period.
What are the symptoms of unbearable menopause? ›
In the months or years leading up to menopause (perimenopause), you might experience these signs and symptoms:
- Irregular periods.
- vagin*l dryness.
- Hot flashes.
- Chills.
- Night sweats.
- Sleep problems.
- Mood changes.
- Weight gain and slowed metabolism.
After menopause, the tissues of the labia minora (which surround the opening of the vagin* and urethra), cl*tor*s, vagin*, and urethra become thin (atrophy). This thinning can result in chronic irritation and dryness of the vagin*. vagin*l discharge and urinary tract infections are more likely to develop.
