Postmenopause is the time after you’ve been without a menstrual period for 12 months. It lasts for the rest of your life. During this stage, menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, get milder or go away. People in postmenopause are at an increased risk for osteoporosis and heart disease. Medication or healthy lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of these conditions.
Postmenopause is a term to describe the time after you’ve gone through menopause. When you’re in postmenopause (or postmenopausal), your menstrual period has been gone for longer than 12 consecutive months. At this stage in life, your reproductive years are behind you and you’re no longer ovulating (or releasing eggs).
Uncomfortable symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and night sweats may become milder or go away completely in postmenopause. People in postmenopause are at an increased risk for osteoporosis because their bodies don’t make a lot of estrogen, which is essential for maintaining strong and healthy bones.
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Once you enter postmenopause, you’re in this stage for the rest of your life. Your hormone levels will remain low and you’ll no longer have a monthly period. You can’t get pregnant because your ovaries stop releasing eggs.
There isn’t an exact age for postmenopause. Once your period has been absent for more than one year, you’re in postmenopause regardless of age. On average, this happens around age 52.
Many people in postmenopause feel lingering symptoms from menopause, although the symptoms are usually less intense. Lingering symptoms occur due to low levels of reproductive hormones. Some people have no symptoms in postmenopause.
If you have symptoms, some of the most common are:
If your symptoms become more intense or interfere with your daily life, talk with your healthcare provider. They can recommend treatment or order tests to determine what may be causing your symptoms.
Yes. Some people still experience hot flashes in the years after menopause. Low estrogen levels cause postmenopausal hot flashes. If your hot flashes are bothersome or intensify, speak with your healthcare provider to rule out other causes.
Vaginal bleeding during postmenopause isn’t a normal side effect of decreasing hormone levels. In some cases, the dryness in your vagina could cause some light bleeding or spotting after sex. In other cases, it could indicate a condition like endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, endometritis or cancer. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience postmenopausal bleeding.
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People in postmenopause have a higher risk for health conditions like osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and genitourinary syndrome of menopause (formerly called vaginal atrophy).
You lose bone density more rapidly after menopause due to decreased levels of estrogen. You can lose 25% of your bone density or more after menopause (approximately 1% to 2% per year). Losing too much bone increases your risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures. Bone mineral density testing, also called bone densitometry, can see how much calcium you have in certain parts of your bones. The test helps detect osteoporosis and osteopenia.
Osteoporosis isn’t entirely preventable, but you can take steps to strengthen your bones. Eating foods high in calcium — like cheese, yogurt, spinach or fortified cereals — can help boost calcium intake. Adding a calcium supplement can also help. Some people also need a vitamin D supplement because it helps their bodies absorb calcium.
Before menopause, your body’s own estrogen helps protect against cardiovascular diseases like heart attack, heart disease and stroke. Risks for these conditions increase after menopause. It’s also common for people in postmenopause to become more sedentary, which contributes to high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
The best ways to prevent cardiovascular diseases are to eat healthy and nutritious foods, get regular physical activity and avoid tobacco products. Managing chronic conditions like high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure are also essential to lowering your risk for cardiovascular diseases.
Decreased estrogen levels cause the tissues in your vagina to become thin and dry. People in postmenopause may continue to struggle with vaginal dryness for years after their last period. Using vaginal lubricants can help ease your discomfort. Using lubrication and topical creams or getting laser therapy to your vagina may help with vaginal dryness. Decreased estrogen levels can also impact your urinary tract and bladder and make leaking pee a problem. Your healthcare provider should evaluate you if you have persistent dryness, painful intercourse or leak pee uncontrollably.
People in postmenopause may experience moodiness, anxiety and depression. Things like stress, sexual tension or other life challenges can cause mental health disruptions. You may feel sad that your reproductive years are over or long for the days of your youthfulness. Hormone levels can also affect your mood. It might help to talk with a therapist or counselor about what you’re feeling to see if they can offer ways to cope with this new phase of your life.
Your healthcare provider will be able to tell you if you’re in postmenopause based on your symptoms and how long it’s been since your last menstrual period. In some cases, your healthcare provider may take a blood sample and check your hormone levels to confirm you’ve gone through menopause. Remember, you’re not considered to be through menopause until it’s been over one year since you’ve had a period.
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Hormone therapy (HT) is the most effective option. Your provider typically recommends HT within a decade of menopause or for people under the age of 60. There are possible health risks associated with hormone therapy like blood clots, breast cancer or stroke. These risks depend on dosage and your personal risk factors.
Some medications your healthcare provider may consider to help with postmenopausal symptoms are:
Certain lifestyle or at-home changes can help you manage symptoms of postmenopause. Some of these include:
Once your menstrual period has been absent for over a year, you’re not likely to get pregnant. Until your healthcare provider has confirmed you’re no longer ovulating and can’t get pregnant, continue to use birth control if you don’t want to become pregnant.
No, not all people lose interest in sex after menopause. Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex can make sex less pleasurable. Using a vaginal lubricant can help with dryness. Some people are less interested in sex because of other symptoms like depression or feeling tired. If your feelings about sex have changed, ask your healthcare provider for help if these symptoms bother you.
If any of your postmenopause symptoms bother you or prevent you from living your daily life, contact your healthcare provider to discuss possible treatment. They can confirm you’ve completed menopause and are in postmenopause.
Some questions you might ask are:
If you experience any vaginal bleeding during postmenopause, contact your healthcare provider to rule out a serious medical condition.
You should still see your healthcare provider for routine gynecological care even though you aren’t menstruating. This may include Pap tests, pelvic exams and mammograms. You should continue to schedule annual wellness appointments. Since you’re at an increased risk for osteoporosis, providers usually recommend bone density screenings, as well. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine how often you should make check-up appointments based on your health history.
Although your body won’t go back to the way it was before menopause, many people experience relief from menopausal symptoms once they reach postmenopause. Uncomfortable or disturbing symptoms like hot flashes, sweating and mood swings can get milder or go away completely. But this isn’t always the case, and you may continue to have symptoms of menopause for years. If these symptoms disrupt your life, contact your healthcare provider so they can recommend treatment options.
One of the most important nutrients you need after menopause is calcium. Calcium is essential to your bone health and is especially important in postmenopause because a decrease in estrogen can increase your risk of osteoporosis. Vitamin D is also important because it helps your body absorb calcium.
But it’s always best to talk to your healthcare provider about supplements you should be taking because they can recommend what’s best for you based on your health history.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Menopause is a significant point in your life. It’s normal to feel a lot of emotions and wonder what comes next. The years after menopause can present new and unique health challenges. Some of the more bothersome symptoms of menopause (like hot flashes and night sweats) may disappear. But decreased estrogen levels put you at risk for health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.
Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about this new chapter of your life. Just because you’re no longer getting your period doesn’t mean your gynecological care ends. Eating healthy foods, getting physical activity and managing chronic health conditions become even more important in postmenopause. Discuss any symptoms, concerns and questions you have with your healthcare provider so they can give you the care you need.
Last reviewed on 08/08/2024.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy