Postmenopause is the time in a woman's life after she has gone 12 full months without a period. The years leading up to this point are called perimenopause. During perimenopause, hormone levels fluctuate and decline, periods may be irregular, and women may experience symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes, trouble sleeping, and more.
Once a woman reaches postmenopause, her estrogen levels are very low. This brings new health risks that women should be aware of. For example, the drop in estrogen after menopause increases a woman's chance of developing heart disease and osteoporosis. Low estrogen levels can also lead to changes in sexual function and vaginal health.
Managing postmenopause requires paying attention to diet, exercise, routine health screenings, and possibly hormone therapy. Eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, not smoking, and limiting alcohol intake helps lower the risks associated with this stage of life. Getting recommended health screenings and exams is also important for early detection of any problems.
As for managing symptoms, some women consider bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to help ease challenging menopausal symptoms. Our caring doctors at Optimal Hormone Solutions specialize in customized hormone therapy to enhance health and quality of life during perimenopause and beyond.
Some key points about postmenopause include: