Postmenopause

What is Postmenopause?

Postmenopause (the period after menopause) officially begins when a woman hasn’t experienced a period for one year. Postmenopause usually occurs around the age of 50, but factors such as smoking, obesity or damage to the ovaries (from surgery, trauma, radiation, etc.) can cause a woman to the ovaries (from surgery, trauma, radiation, etc.) can cause a woman to become postmenopausal earlier.

Once a woman is postmenopausal, she will remain postmenopausal for the rest of her life. The good news is that menopausal symptoms usually decrease in severity and frequency after a woman enters postmenopause. For example, hot flashes, which many menopausal women dread, usually occur less frequently and are less severe.

Although the symptoms of menopause may improve during postmenopause, the deficiency in estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, along with other female hormones, increases the risk of health problems:

• Low estrogen in women results in an increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and genitourinary atrophy, resulting in painful intercourse, vaginal itching and increased risk of urinary tract infections.
• Low testosterone in women results in decreased sex drive, bone strength, muscle strength, and energy levels.
• Low progesterone in women results in emotional instability (depressed mood, anxiety, irritability) and difficulty sleeping.