Postmenopausal

Many symptoms occur postmenopause, including hot flashes, weight fluctuations, and vaginal dryness. Some of these symptoms are temporary, while others may last longer in some people. Postmenopause is the period after the point when a person’s menstrual cycle stops completely. This cessation, known as menopause, typically happens between When menopause occurs, the ovaries cease to produce eggs, estrogen, and In this article, we discuss postmenopause and the related symptoms. We also look at the long-term impact of postmenopause and potential treatments to improve symptoms. Share on Pinterest JGI/Tom Grill/Getty Images Postmenopause characterizes the extended stage of life where people no longer get monthly periods. It is one of the following three stages of menopause that take place over several years: • Perimenopause: A transitional stage that refers to the period before menopause, including the 12 months following a person’s last period. • Menopause: A doctor will diagnose a person as being in menopause 12 months after a person’s final period. • Postmenopause: The time that follows menopause. The duration of symptoms during the menopause transition is different for everyone. On average, it lasts for Many symptoms overlap between perimenopause and menopause. However, the following symptoms often accompany the postmenopause stage: Fluctuating weight People may experience weight gain or weight loss after menopause. However, the connection between fluctuating weight and postm...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. How foods impact symptoms Having a well-balanced diet is crucial during any stage of life, but during menopause, your body needs some extra patience and care. From changes in metabolism to At the same time, Dr. Pattimakiel stresses that it’s important not to push your body too hard with any extreme diets. Instead, find something that fits your lifestyle and includes what you enjoy eating. “We want to be realistic about what is sustainable long term,” says Dr. Pattimakiel. “So, we want to make changes that you can make now and continue going forward.” Foods to eat Here are some foods to incorporate into your diet and how they can help: Calcium-rich foods While you’re dealing with hot flashes and night sweats, your bones are going through changes of their own throughout menopause. This may not be something you feel right away, but bone loss becomes more prevalent during this time and can even lead to conditions like “Your body is building bone up until age 30. After that, you start to lose bone,” explains Dr. Pattimakiel. “Since you’re losing that estrogen around menopause, there’s an accelerated decline of that bone.” That’s why Dr. Pattimakiel stresses the importance of looking for more calcium-rich foods to help keep your bones strong and healthy. Try foods with high sources of calcium like: • Skim milk. ...

Some vaginal discharge is normal throughout a person’s life. The amount of discharge may increase or decrease around menopause for various reasons. After menopause, the body makes less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Very low levels of estrogen can have many effects throughout the body. According to the Menopause occurs when a person’s menstruation stops for 12 months in a row, but people may begin to notice bodily changes several years before this in a period known as perimenopause. Many people experience changes in their vaginal discharge before and after menopause. This article looks at these changes, what they mean, and when to contact a doctor. Share on Pinterest Vladimir Vladimirov / Getty Images Around • • urethral atrophy, or a thinning or breakdown of urinary tract tissue • a decreased libido, or a lower sex drive The symptoms of vaginal atrophy include vaginal dryness, itchiness, and painful intercourse. Vaginal atrophy occurs in about Although vaginal dryness is common after menopause, some people may experience increased vaginal discharge. In fact, in one Vaginal atrophy can sometimes cause vaginal discharge. Discharge may also appear after local irritation, such as after sexual intercourse. Excess estrogen during perimenopause • • irritants • skin conditions affecting the vulva, or vulvovaginal dermatoses The vagina produces secretions to lubricate the vaginal walls. Some people experience increased discharge during perimenopause and reduced dischar...

There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. By submitting your information you agree to the Do you think you're postmenopausal? While you may believe you've got a good grip on what happens in the run-up to menopause, you're probably less clear on what takes place after. This stage of life, which can arrive for women anytime between their 40s and 60s, comes with its own changes and challenges. It's worth getting acquainted with how your body will evolve since these post-menopause symptoms will then last until the end of your life.We've enlisted the experts to explain exactly what happens after menopause—which takes place at an average age of 51 in the United States—and why women may have very different experiences, due to varying hormonal fluctuations. They'll also reveal nine of the key changes that lay ahead, positive as well as negative. Because while you may have to deal with postmenopausal hot flashes and weight gain, menopause can be associated with more liberating sex and no need to worry about regular bleeds. So, if you're well aware of key What's happened to the body? "The main change is the absence of female hormones—estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—which affect the body in many different ways and cause a whole host of symptoms," explains Dr Kaikavoosi. "These include everything from hot flashes to aches and pains, and much more." Post-menopause symptoms There is much overlap between menopause and Does everyone have the same experience? No....

The key to staying youthful and active after menopause is good nutrition and regular physical exercise. Nutrition after menopause As you age, your nutritional needs change. Before menopause, you should have about 1,000 mg of calcium daily. After menopause, you should have up it to1,200 mg of calcium per day. Vitamin D is also very important for calcium absorption and bone formation. Vitamin D can greatly cut your risk of spinal fractures. But, too much calcium or vitamin D can cause kidney stones, constipation, or abdominal pain, especially if you have kidney problems. The importance of exercise after menopause Many women gain weight after menopause. This may be because of declining estrogen levels. Raising your activity level will help avoid this weight gain. Regular exercise benefits the heart and bones, helps control weight, and can improve your mood. Women who are not physically active are more likely to have heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Sedentary women may also have chronic back pain, insomnia, poor circulation, weak muscles, and depression. Aerobic activities, such as walking, jogging, swimming, biking, and dancing, help prevent some of these problems. It also helps raise HDL cholesterol levels, the "good" cholesterol. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking and running, as well as moderate weight training, help increase bone mass. In postmenopausal women, moderate exercise helps preserve bone mass in the spine and preven...

Overview What is postmenopausal bleeding? Postmenopausal bleeding is bleeding that occurs after menopause. Postmenopausal bleeding is usually due to benign (noncancerous) gynecological conditions such as endometrial polyps. But for about 10% of women, bleeding after menopause is a sign of Who is more likely to have postmenopausal bleeding? Anyone can have vaginal bleeding, especially during perimenopause. Perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, usually occurs between ages 40 and 50. It’s the phase when a woman’s hormone levels and periods start to change. How common is postmenopausal bleeding? Postmenopausal bleeding occurs in about 10% of women over 55. Symptoms and Causes What causes postmenopausal bleeding? The most common causes of bleeding or spotting after menopause include: • Endometrial or • • Uterine cancer or endometrial cancer (cancer in the lining of the uterus). • • Other causes can include: • • • Bleeding from other areas, nearby, in the bladder or rectum or bleeding from the skin of the vulva (outside near the vagina). Diagnosis and Tests How do you know the cause of postmenopausal bleeding? • Identifying the cause of the bleeding can include the following: • Exam by your provider of the vagina and cervix. • Pap smear to check the cervical cells. • Ultrasound, usually using a vaginal approach, which may include the use of saline to make it easier to see any uterine polyps. • Biopsy of the endometrium or uterus. In this procedure, your healthcare pro...

Menopause marks the end of having periods and being able to get pregnant. You may reach menopause when you haven't had a period for 12 months. Bleeding from the vagina after menopause is unusual. Get it checked by a health care provider as soon as you can. Or see a doctor who's had extra training to find and treat diseases of the female reproductive organs, called a gynecologist. This type of bleeding is also called postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. It can be caused by: • Cancer of the uterus, cervix or vagina. • Thinning of the tissues that line the uterus or vagina. • Uterine fibroids or uterine polyps, which are tissue growths in the uterus that aren't cancer. • An infection of the uterine lining. • Hormone therapy, tamoxifen or other medicines. • Injury, sexual assault or abuse by a partner. • Bleeding from nearby body parts, such as the urinary tract or rectum. • Endometrial hyperplasia, when the lining of the uterus grows too much and becomes thick. The cause of your bleeding may be harmless. Or it could be due to something serious. That's why it's important to see your gynecologist or other care provider for a check-up as soon as possible. • FAQs: Perimenopausal bleeding and bleeding after menopause. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Perimenopausal-Bleeding-and-Bleeding-After-Menopause. Accessed Nov. 2, 2022. • AskMayoExpert. Postmenopausal bleeding (adult). Mayo Clinic; 2022. • DeCherney AH, et al., eds. Complicat...

Many women assume that once they have stopped having their periods for 12 months, they won't continue to experience the bodily discomforts that perimenopause usually brings. In most cases, women gradually stop feeling symptoms. Unfortunately, this is not always true. During postmenopause, hormone levels may continue to fluctuate, which can bring symptoms many women are already familiar with as well as other, less common symptoms. In this section, women can find a list of common and uncommon symptoms associated with postmenopause as well as risks of disease related to postmenopause. Symptoms of Postmenopause During the years leading up to postmenopause, many women experience common and uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood swings, loss of libido, and vaginal dryness. These symptoms usually ease gradually once postmenopause begins. In fact, many women have reported that once they became postmenopausal, they had renewed energy and an overall feeling of well-being. On the other side, some women have also reported feeling a few lingering symptoms that may last for as long as 10 years after menopause. Below is a list of the common and less common postmenopause symptoms. Pin Common Symptoms Most postmenopausal women report experiencing the following symptoms: Vaginal dryness and itching Once a woman's body starts producing less estrogen, her vaginal walls may actually thin and shrink in size, or atrophy. This dryness can also cause itching, soreness, and painful inter...