Post-menopause
When will I be post-menopause?
In perimenopause your ovaries produce fewer reproductive hormones which eventually stops ovulation and periods stop, meaning that you are post-menopause.
On the day after it’s been 12 months since your last period, you are post-menopause. The average age for this to happen is 51 but women of colour may experience this on average, 2-3 years earlier. The key word here is ‘average’, you may become post-menopause much sooner or later than this.
When do symptoms stop post-menopause?
There’s no definitive answer to how long an individual’s symptoms will continue, post-menopause. For some, there’ll be no symptoms, or they’ll continue for a short period, for others it will be a longer period and for some, symptoms persist over the long term. A 2015 study (SWAN Study), found, on average symptoms last for 4.5 years post-menopause.
How long does post-menopause last?
You will be post-menopause, living your ‘second spring’ as it’s termed in the east, for the rest of your life. It’s time to say goodbye to periods, fear of pregnancy, hormonal headaches and menstrual symptoms, and hello to better self-care, greater confidence and enjoying a new stage of life.
What are the signs of post-menopause/How do I know if I am in post-menopause?
For some, becoming post-menopausal can be a sudden onset due to surgery or medical treatment. For the majority, it happens over time, as hormones wax and wane. The end of your periods is used to mark natural menopause, so it’s likely that you will see a change in periods – longer or shorter gaps, heavier or lighter - as you enter your perimenopause. There’s a raft of physical, emotional and mental health symptoms that can be experienced brought about by the much lower levels of reproductive hormones resulting in a different post-menopause profile for each of us.
Post-menopause health
Going through menopause, or indeed the peri-menopausal build-up really is the time to prioritise your menopause health. Post-menopause brings Increased risks as the oestrogen that has kept us fit, fertile and healthy is no longer providing protection to our hearts, bones and brains.
Even those who have remained symptom-free, are at increased risk of heart disease (the biggest killer of women in the UK), osteoporosis and potential mental health issues as oestrogen runs out.
How to feel good post-menopause?
Life post-menopause continues apace, so you want to be well-prepped. Listen to your body and nurture it for the next phase of your life. It’s time to prioritise self-care, add exercise and move more to help with physical and mental health as you age. Manage your stress and ensure you’re eating a healthy diet, avoiding too much salt, sugar and alcohol.
Vaginal tissue thins in menopause causing vaginal atrophy and pain, making going for a wee and having sex painful, and can be miserable. Topical oestrogens and good lubricants can help relieve dryness.
When to see a GP in post-menopause?
If you’re experiencing symptoms that are impacting your ability to function whether physically or mentally, talk to your GP, or menopause specialist to explore treatment options. Don’t feel that you just need to put up with your post-menopause symptoms, or indeed assume that whatever’s happening is all down to menopause.
If you have any post-menopausal spotting or bleeding, talk to your GP to rule out any underlying causes. In the majority of cases, it is not a problem but better to rule out anything serious.
