Postmenopause is the stage that begins one year after a woman's last menstrual period. In the years leading up to menopause, levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones fluctuate and begin to decline. But in postmenopause, hormone levels are consistently low. This brings new health considerations that women should understand.
Some key changes during postmenopause include:
- Hot flashes and night sweats. These common menopausal symptoms may continue or reemerge in the early postmenopausal years as the body adjusts to low hormone levels. Lifestyle changes can provide relief. Hormone therapy from clinics like Harmony Hormone Clinic may also help.
- Vaginal dryness and atrophy. Lower estrogen levels can cause thinning and inflammation of vaginal tissues. Over-the-counter lubricants and moisturizers may help. For moderate to severe cases, prescription estrogen creams, tablets, or rings can treat symptoms.
- Osteoporosis risk. Estrogen plays a key role in bone health, so lowered estrogen production in postmenopause speeds up bone loss. Getting adequate calcium and vitamin D, exercising, not smoking, and possibly taking bone-strengthening medicines helps protect bone density. Bone density scans are recommended periodically.
- Heart disease risk. Loss of estrogen's protective effects on the cardiovascular system means a woman's risk of heart attack and stroke climbs significantly in the postmenopausal years. Controlling blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body weight becomes vitally important, as does leading an active, healthy lifestyle.
The duration of
postmenopause varies but can last decades—essentially the rest of a woman's life. Being proactive about health at this time lays a foundation for wellness in the later years. From hormone therapies to lifestyle changes and preventative screens, clinics like
Harmony Hormone Clinic provide comprehensive care to help women transition smoothly into the postmenopausal stage. Their experts stay up-to-date on the latest medical guidance to best address common concerns like hot flashes, sexual health, bone density, and heart health.