Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPostmenopausal SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Postmenopausal Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Postmenopause is the stage that a person enters when they are pastmenopause.When you are postmenopausal, you can no longer get pregnant. At this stage, you may also stop having menopausal symptoms. However, some people keep having symptoms beyond menopause, but those symptoms are often milder.Here’s what you need to know about being postmenopausal, including strategies that can help you cope with the transition.Getty Images /Vicki SmithDefining Premenopause, Perimenopause, and MenopausePostmenopausal SymptomsPostmenopause begins after menopause, the period of time in which a person has not had their period for 12 months. In postmenopause, the symptoms that a person had during perimenopause (menopausal transition) and menopause may lessen or even go away.You might still have some lingeringmenopausal symptomswhen you enter postmenopause, including:Hot and/or cold flashesNight sweatsVaginal drynessandpain during sexTrouble sleepingA need tourinate more frequentlyDry skinHeadachesRapid heartbeatAching jointsand musclesWeight changesHairloss and thinningChanges in libidoEmotional changesCausesAs your body gets older, it starts making fewer reproductive hormones. Specifically, the ovaries make less estrogen. The period of declining hormone production, called perimenopause, can last eight to 10 years.When the ovaries stop releasing an egg each month and are no longer producing estrogen, you stop getting your monthly period. At this time, you transition from perimenopause to menopause.When you have completed menopause, you enter the postmenopausal stage.There are three stages of the menopausal transition: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.DiagnosisTo determine whether you have entered postmenopause, your doctor will ask you questions about your menstrual cycle in the past year. If you have not had your period for one year, you might be postmenopausal.It’s usually not necessary for a person to have a blood test to confirm that they are in menopause; however, a doctor may use a blood test to check levels of specific hormones, such asfollicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) andestrogen.TreatmentThe stages of menopause are a normal part of life and do not require specific treatment. However, some people experience symptoms during the transition that greatly affect their life. If this is the case for you, your doctor might recommendhormone replacement therapy(HRT).Hormone Replacement Therapy RisksWhile hormone replacement therapy may help with symptoms like hot flashes or vaginal dryness, there are also risks involved.Hormone replacement therapymay lead to:A higher risk of blood clotsA higher risk of strokeAhigher risk of certain cancersPeople with some health conditions or risk factors may not be able to take HRT. However, they can try other strategies for coping with any lingering menopausal symptoms, such as other types of medication and lifestyle changes.Does Menopause Need to Be Treated?Reducing RiskFor some people, going through menopause also increases their risk of certain medical conditions that do require prevention and treatment.Once you have entered the postmenopausal stage, your risk of developing some health conditions can increase, including:OsteoporosisHeart diseaseIf you have lingering menopausal symptoms once you enter postmenopause, your doctor might suggest certain treatments, such as:Hormone therapy (estrogen therapy or estrogen-progesterone therapy)MedicationsLifestyle changes (diet, exercise,getting enough sleep, avoidinghot flashtriggers)Support groups and talk therapy to helpcope with the changes menopause bringsSexual HealthThe vaginal dryness that often begins during menopause may persist into postmenopause. It can be treated withvaginal lubricants, but the first-line treatment is vaginal moisturizers, with lubricant if needed. Topical vaginal estrogen treatment is also highly effective.Practicing Safe SexAlthough a sexually active person can no longer get pregnant when they are postmenopausal, they are still at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Increased vaginal dryness means that people who are postmenopausal may even be at higher risk for these infections.Mental HealthWhile menopause and postmenopause are natural phases of life, they also signal a person’sloss of fertility. This can be emotionally challenging for some people.The drop in hormone levels that occurs during the menopausal process can also contribute to depression and anxiety.You might find it beneficial to work with a therapist or counselor throughout menopause. These mental health professionals can help you cope with the changes that the transition brings.Preventive ScreeningsIt’s also important to get regular physical checkups as you go through menopause and beyond. Diseases like some cancers and chronic conditions become more common as you get older.Factors like your genetics and lifestyle will also determine which preventive health screenings you need, as well as when—and how often—you need to have them.A few examples of screenings that you can ask your doctor about when you reach postmenopause include:Mammogramsto screen for breast cancerPap smearsandHPVtests (every five years until the age of 65) to screen for cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV)DEXA scans to assesspotential bone lossdue to osteoporosisBlood tests to evaluate heart disease risk and risk fortype 2 diabetesColorectal cancer screenings, such as a stool test or a colonoscopy5 Habits for Healthy AgingA Word From VerywellPostmenopause is part of the natural progression of life for most people with female reproductive organs. As a person gets older, the body will no longer produce certain hormones and the person stops having menstrual cycles.If you have been in menopause and notice that you have not had your period for a year, it might mean that you have transitioned into postmenopause. Once you enter postmenopause, you will no longer be able to get pregnant.Some people notice that once they become postmenopausal, the symptoms that they had during menopause lessen or go away. For some people, the symptoms can linger, and even mild symptoms can interfere with normal day-to-day activities.Talk to your doctor about any bothersome symptoms that you’re experiencing during menopause or postmenopause. While they might be a “normal” part of the process, they can be eased with treatment.
Postmenopause is the stage that a person enters when they are pastmenopause.
When you are postmenopausal, you can no longer get pregnant. At this stage, you may also stop having menopausal symptoms. However, some people keep having symptoms beyond menopause, but those symptoms are often milder.
Here’s what you need to know about being postmenopausal, including strategies that can help you cope with the transition.
Getty Images /Vicki Smith
Defining Premenopause, Perimenopause, and Menopause
Postmenopause begins after menopause, the period of time in which a person has not had their period for 12 months. In postmenopause, the symptoms that a person had during perimenopause (menopausal transition) and menopause may lessen or even go away.
You might still have some lingeringmenopausal symptomswhen you enter postmenopause, including:
As your body gets older, it starts making fewer reproductive hormones. Specifically, the ovaries make less estrogen. The period of declining hormone production, called perimenopause, can last eight to 10 years.
When the ovaries stop releasing an egg each month and are no longer producing estrogen, you stop getting your monthly period. At this time, you transition from perimenopause to menopause.
When you have completed menopause, you enter the postmenopausal stage.
There are three stages of the menopausal transition: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
To determine whether you have entered postmenopause, your doctor will ask you questions about your menstrual cycle in the past year. If you have not had your period for one year, you might be postmenopausal.
It’s usually not necessary for a person to have a blood test to confirm that they are in menopause; however, a doctor may use a blood test to check levels of specific hormones, such asfollicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) andestrogen.
The stages of menopause are a normal part of life and do not require specific treatment. However, some people experience symptoms during the transition that greatly affect their life. If this is the case for you, your doctor might recommendhormone replacement therapy(HRT).
Hormone Replacement Therapy RisksWhile hormone replacement therapy may help with symptoms like hot flashes or vaginal dryness, there are also risks involved.Hormone replacement therapymay lead to:A higher risk of blood clotsA higher risk of strokeAhigher risk of certain cancers
Hormone Replacement Therapy Risks
While hormone replacement therapy may help with symptoms like hot flashes or vaginal dryness, there are also risks involved.Hormone replacement therapymay lead to:A higher risk of blood clotsA higher risk of strokeAhigher risk of certain cancers
While hormone replacement therapy may help with symptoms like hot flashes or vaginal dryness, there are also risks involved.
Hormone replacement therapymay lead to:
People with some health conditions or risk factors may not be able to take HRT. However, they can try other strategies for coping with any lingering menopausal symptoms, such as other types of medication and lifestyle changes.
Does Menopause Need to Be Treated?
Reducing Risk
For some people, going through menopause also increases their risk of certain medical conditions that do require prevention and treatment.
Once you have entered the postmenopausal stage, your risk of developing some health conditions can increase, including:
If you have lingering menopausal symptoms once you enter postmenopause, your doctor might suggest certain treatments, such as:
Sexual Health
The vaginal dryness that often begins during menopause may persist into postmenopause. It can be treated withvaginal lubricants, but the first-line treatment is vaginal moisturizers, with lubricant if needed. Topical vaginal estrogen treatment is also highly effective.
Practicing Safe SexAlthough a sexually active person can no longer get pregnant when they are postmenopausal, they are still at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Increased vaginal dryness means that people who are postmenopausal may even be at higher risk for these infections.
Practicing Safe Sex
Although a sexually active person can no longer get pregnant when they are postmenopausal, they are still at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Increased vaginal dryness means that people who are postmenopausal may even be at higher risk for these infections.
Although a sexually active person can no longer get pregnant when they are postmenopausal, they are still at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Increased vaginal dryness means that people who are postmenopausal may even be at higher risk for these infections.
Mental Health
While menopause and postmenopause are natural phases of life, they also signal a person’sloss of fertility. This can be emotionally challenging for some people.
The drop in hormone levels that occurs during the menopausal process can also contribute to depression and anxiety.
You might find it beneficial to work with a therapist or counselor throughout menopause. These mental health professionals can help you cope with the changes that the transition brings.
Preventive Screenings
It’s also important to get regular physical checkups as you go through menopause and beyond. Diseases like some cancers and chronic conditions become more common as you get older.
Factors like your genetics and lifestyle will also determine which preventive health screenings you need, as well as when—and how often—you need to have them.
A few examples of screenings that you can ask your doctor about when you reach postmenopause include:
5 Habits for Healthy Aging
A Word From Verywell
Postmenopause is part of the natural progression of life for most people with female reproductive organs. As a person gets older, the body will no longer produce certain hormones and the person stops having menstrual cycles.
If you have been in menopause and notice that you have not had your period for a year, it might mean that you have transitioned into postmenopause. Once you enter postmenopause, you will no longer be able to get pregnant.
Some people notice that once they become postmenopausal, the symptoms that they had during menopause lessen or go away. For some people, the symptoms can linger, and even mild symptoms can interfere with normal day-to-day activities.
Talk to your doctor about any bothersome symptoms that you’re experiencing during menopause or postmenopause. While they might be a “normal” part of the process, they can be eased with treatment.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Menopause, perimenopause, postmenopause.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women’s Health.Menopause and your health.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Menopause, perimenopause, postmenopause.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women’s Health.Menopause and your health.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cleveland Clinic.Menopause, perimenopause, postmenopause.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women’s Health.Menopause and your health.
Cleveland Clinic.Menopause, perimenopause, postmenopause.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women’s Health.Menopause and your health.
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