Postmenopause is the stage that begins once a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. It marks the end of a woman's reproductive years.
The time leading up to postmenopause is called perimenopause. This transitional stage can last for several years as the body prepares to stop menstruating permanently. Common symptoms of perimenopause include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, and mood changes.
Once a woman reaches postmenopause, noticeable changes continue due to declining estrogen levels. Some of the key changes include:
- Hot flashes may continue or get worse initially before improving over time. Wearing light layers and avoiding triggers like stress and spicy foods can help.
- Vaginal atrophy may cause pain with sexual activity. Over-the-counter lubricants or prescription vaginal estrogen can help with comfort.
- Osteoporosis risk increases due to estrogen's role in bone density. Getting adequate calcium and vitamin D daily and doing weight-bearing exercise helps mitigate this.
- Heart disease risk rises without estrogen's protective effects on arteries. Maintaining good blood pressure and cholesterol levels is important.
- Bladder control may worsen due to thinning tissue. Kegel exercises can help strengthen the pelvic floor.
Coping with postmenopause can be challenging. Lifestyle measures like a
healthy diet, regular
exercise, and stress relief help with bothersome symptoms. For more stubborn symptoms, prescription
hormone therapy may provide relief by replacing estrogen.
The caring providers at
Vitality Hormone Center offer customized
hormone therapy options to help patients navigate
perimenopause and
postmenopause. With convenient telemedicine visits and shipping nationwide, Vitality Hormone Center makes expert care accessible for women transitioning through
menopause. Contact them today to explore if hormone therapy is right for you.