Postmenopause is the stage that begins when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months and the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs. It signals the end of a woman's reproductive years.
The transition into postmenopause is known as perimenopause. This transitional time can last up to 10 years as hormone levels naturally fluctuate and decline. Common symptoms of perimenopause include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irregular periods, trouble sleeping, and mood changes.
Once a woman reaches postmenopause, changes that occur include:
- Ovarian function ceases - The ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone and ovarian production of testosterone drops significantly
- Menstruation ends - Periods become irregular and eventually stop altogether
- Fertility ends - Pregnancy can no longer occur naturally past this point
- Physical changes - Postmenopausal women are at higher risk for certain health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease
To help manage symptoms and long-term health risks, women can make lifestyle changes like eating healthy, exercising regularly, stopping smoking, and limiting alcohol intake. Some women may wish to explore hormone therapy options as well.
Balance Hormone Clinic offers customized bioidentical hormone therapy to help women address unpleasant symptoms associated with perimenopause and postmenopause. Their expert physicians create personalized treatment plans involving hormones identical to those produced by the human body to get hormone levels optimized and help women feel like themselves again.
The postmenopausal stage can last 1/3 or more of a woman's life, so it's important to work with your doctor on screenings and prevention to ensure you stay healthy. Things like bone density tests, cholesterol checks, and mammograms take on greater importance after menopause.
Being informed on what to expect with the physical and emotional changes will help every woman transition smoothly into her postmenopausal years. It's a natural phase of life that brings an end to fertility but can open the door to new beginnings as well!