Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to Seek Medical CareFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to Seek Medical Care
FAQs
Abdominal cramps after menopause may feel like menstrual cramps, but they often have a different cause. While menstrual cramps typically occur because of contractions in the uterus, cramps after menopause could signify an underlying condition such as endometriosis, fibroids, or gastrointestinal issues.
This article discusses the various causes of perimenopause and menopause cramps and how they can be treated.
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What Causes Cramping After Menopause?
Cramps that occur after menopause are usually due to several treatable conditions.
Should you worry about bleeding and cramps after menopause?If you are experiencing heavy bleeding and cramps after menopause, you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider immediately. Any sort of cramps or bleeding after you have made it through the transitional period is abnormal and should be investigated.
Should you worry about bleeding and cramps after menopause?
If you are experiencing heavy bleeding and cramps after menopause, you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider immediately. Any sort of cramps or bleeding after you have made it through the transitional period is abnormal and should be investigated.
Cramping After Sex: Is It Normal, Causes in Men and Women
Fibroids
Fibroidsare masses of tissue and muscle cells that grow within the uterus.
The masses are typically associated with higher levels of estrogen, so it is rare that they develop after a person has reached menopause. When they do, however, they can cause the same symptoms that people who haven’t gone through menopause experience. Those include cramping and abdominal pain.
Cramps But No Period: Getting to the Cause
Endometriosis
Endometriosisis a uterine disorder that develops when the endometrium (the tissue that lines the uterus) grows where it’s not supposed to. The lining begins to grow in areas outside the uterus, such as thefallopian tubes, ovaries, and the pelvic lining tissue. The tissue still acts as it would inside the uterus, meaning it gets thick and bleeds.
It was previously thought that endometriosis could only affect those of childbearing age. However, recent research has found that is not the case.
Roughly 2%-5% of postmenopausal people experience endometriosis.When it develops after a person has reached menopause, it is typically associated withhormone replacement therapythat is used to help curb menopausal symptoms.
Endometriosis after menopausepresents with symptoms, such as:
New Case of Endometriosis After Menopause?Typically, people who have endometriosis prior to menopause find symptom relief once they reach that stage. However, you do not have to have endometriosis prior to menopause for it to develop as a new condition after the transitional period.
New Case of Endometriosis After Menopause?
Typically, people who have endometriosis prior to menopause find symptom relief once they reach that stage. However, you do not have to have endometriosis prior to menopause for it to develop as a new condition after the transitional period.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Gastrointestinal issues include any sort of problems that affect the function of the gastrointestinal tract, which includes:
Abdominal pain and cramping are trademark symptoms of various gastrointestinal issues.
Estrogen can influence the way the GI tract functions, so when estrogen decreases during menopause, it can cause disruptions that lead to GI issues like cramping.
Menopause and GI DisordersStudies have found that people with GI disorders, such asirritable bowel syndrome, often experience worsened and more severe symptoms following the transition into menopause due to the way in which female sex hormones affect the gut-brainconnection.
Menopause and GI Disorders
Studies have found that people with GI disorders, such asirritable bowel syndrome, often experience worsened and more severe symptoms following the transition into menopause due to the way in which female sex hormones affect the gut-brainconnection.
Ovarian and Uterine Cancers
Ovarian and uterine cancers can cause pain or cramping in the pelvic or abdominal areas. The risk of these cancers increases as you age.
People may not notice symptoms until after the cancer has spread. Some symptoms of ovarian or uterine cancer include:
Ovarian Cysts After MenopauseA cyst that develops after menopause can be a cause for concern. This is because cysts tend to form during ovulation and, after menopause, you don’t ovulate. On rarer occasions, cysts have the potential to turn into cancer.
Ovarian Cysts After Menopause
A cyst that develops after menopause can be a cause for concern. This is because cysts tend to form during ovulation and, after menopause, you don’t ovulate. On rarer occasions, cysts have the potential to turn into cancer.
Risk Factors for Cramps After Menopause
There are some factors that may put you at increased risk of developing a condition that causes cramps after menopause. They include:
How Are Cramps After Menopause Diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will examine you, review your medical history, and ask you questions about your symptoms. If they suspect an underlying issue is causing your cramps, they may suggest one of several imaging techniques. They include:
Your healthcare provider may also take a biopsy, which involves them scraping off tissue cells to send to a laboratory for analysis.
Treating Cramps After Menopause
Treating postmenopausal cramps depends on what’s causing them. In general, the following treatment might be recommended:
For uterine or ovarian cancer, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a mix of these treatments.
Birth Control After Menopause for FibroidsIn some cases, birth control pills may be prescribed to help ease symptoms because of how they manage hormones. However, they do not work to address the fibroids directly.
Birth Control After Menopause for Fibroids
In some cases, birth control pills may be prescribed to help ease symptoms because of how they manage hormones. However, they do not work to address the fibroids directly.
Home Remedies
You can take steps at home to reduce pain and cramping. Some strategies include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Summary
Cramping after menopause is most likely associated with a treatable condition, such as endometriosis or fibroids. While these conditions are not life-threatening, they can be serious and require more in-depth treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are various conditions that can cause cramps after menopause. These include fibroids, endometriosis, and GI issues. While each case is different, they are all closely associated with estrogen levels.Learn MoreLink Between Hormones and Gastrointestinal Problems
There are various conditions that can cause cramps after menopause. These include fibroids, endometriosis, and GI issues. While each case is different, they are all closely associated with estrogen levels.
Learn MoreLink Between Hormones and Gastrointestinal Problems
Learn MoreDealing With Menstrual Cramps and Painful Periods
7 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.Słopień R, Męczekalski B.Aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of endometriosis.Prz Menopauzalny. 2016;15(1):43-7. doi:10.5114/pm.2016.58773Secosan C, Balulescu L, Brasoveanu S, et al.Endometriosis in menopause-renewed attention on a controversial disease.Diagnostics.2020;10(3):134. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10030134Becker SL, Manson JE.Menopause, the gut microbiome, and weight gain: correlation or causation?Menopause.2020;28(3):327-331. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001702Lenhart A, Naliboff B, Shih W, et al.Postmenopausal women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have more severe symptoms than premenopausal women with IBS.Neurogastroenterol Motil.2020;32(10):e13913. doi:10.1111/nmo.13913Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of gynecologic cancers.American Cancer Society.What is ovarian cancer?Shrestha R, Khanal R, Aryal MR, et al.Fibroid degeneration in a postmenopausal woman presenting as an acute abdomen.J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect.2015;5(1):25917. doi:10.3402/jchimp.v5.25917
7 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.Słopień R, Męczekalski B.Aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of endometriosis.Prz Menopauzalny. 2016;15(1):43-7. doi:10.5114/pm.2016.58773Secosan C, Balulescu L, Brasoveanu S, et al.Endometriosis in menopause-renewed attention on a controversial disease.Diagnostics.2020;10(3):134. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10030134Becker SL, Manson JE.Menopause, the gut microbiome, and weight gain: correlation or causation?Menopause.2020;28(3):327-331. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001702Lenhart A, Naliboff B, Shih W, et al.Postmenopausal women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have more severe symptoms than premenopausal women with IBS.Neurogastroenterol Motil.2020;32(10):e13913. doi:10.1111/nmo.13913Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of gynecologic cancers.American Cancer Society.What is ovarian cancer?Shrestha R, Khanal R, Aryal MR, et al.Fibroid degeneration in a postmenopausal woman presenting as an acute abdomen.J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect.2015;5(1):25917. doi:10.3402/jchimp.v5.25917
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.
Słopień R, Męczekalski B.Aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of endometriosis.Prz Menopauzalny. 2016;15(1):43-7. doi:10.5114/pm.2016.58773Secosan C, Balulescu L, Brasoveanu S, et al.Endometriosis in menopause-renewed attention on a controversial disease.Diagnostics.2020;10(3):134. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10030134Becker SL, Manson JE.Menopause, the gut microbiome, and weight gain: correlation or causation?Menopause.2020;28(3):327-331. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001702Lenhart A, Naliboff B, Shih W, et al.Postmenopausal women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have more severe symptoms than premenopausal women with IBS.Neurogastroenterol Motil.2020;32(10):e13913. doi:10.1111/nmo.13913Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of gynecologic cancers.American Cancer Society.What is ovarian cancer?Shrestha R, Khanal R, Aryal MR, et al.Fibroid degeneration in a postmenopausal woman presenting as an acute abdomen.J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect.2015;5(1):25917. doi:10.3402/jchimp.v5.25917
Słopień R, Męczekalski B.Aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of endometriosis.Prz Menopauzalny. 2016;15(1):43-7. doi:10.5114/pm.2016.58773
Secosan C, Balulescu L, Brasoveanu S, et al.Endometriosis in menopause-renewed attention on a controversial disease.Diagnostics.2020;10(3):134. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10030134
Becker SL, Manson JE.Menopause, the gut microbiome, and weight gain: correlation or causation?Menopause.2020;28(3):327-331. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001702
Lenhart A, Naliboff B, Shih W, et al.Postmenopausal women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have more severe symptoms than premenopausal women with IBS.Neurogastroenterol Motil.2020;32(10):e13913. doi:10.1111/nmo.13913
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of gynecologic cancers.
American Cancer Society.What is ovarian cancer?
Shrestha R, Khanal R, Aryal MR, et al.Fibroid degeneration in a postmenopausal woman presenting as an acute abdomen.J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect.2015;5(1):25917. doi:10.3402/jchimp.v5.25917
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