Night sweats? Insomnia? Mood swings? Welcome to part two of “Trying to Survive.” Just when you’ve finally figured out how to love the glorious body you inhabit, life decides to throw you another curve ball: menopause. While the official diagnosis that you’re dealing with perimenopausal symptoms may feel sudden, the truth is that menopause is anything but sudden. When you hit puberty, your body basically starts working in this direction. What about this final rite of passage? Well, that’s pretty crazy. Say hello to postmenopause.
You probably know that perimenopause is the period of time before menopause. Well, postmenopause is pretty much what it sounds like: What to Expect back menopause. This phase, well, it lasts forever – and honestly, that’s not an exaggeration. While perimenopause can last up to ten years, which does seem like a long time AF, postmenopausal syndrome usually lasts much longer. Until death do you part.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Let’s remember one of the most exciting parts of post-menopause: no more periods! You’ll never have to wash a diva cup, throw away a cute pair of dirty panties, or open your period tracking app again.
Of course, everything to do with menopause does have its nasty parts, but if you’re approaching or post-menopause, consider this: It’s time to buy a white swimsuit and ditch the pills (but still use protection). Get a little wild. Hey…how’s your 401K doing?
What is postmenopausal syndrome?
Dr. Mary Jacobson, a senior obstetrician-gynecologist and chief medical advisor at Alpha Medical, describes postmenopausal syndrome: “Postmenopause is defined as a point in time when it most commonly occurs. is 12 months or more from a woman’s last menstrual period.”
How long does menopause last?
Basically, “menopause” is a sign when a person doesn’t have a period for 12 months in a row. Postmenopause is everything back That. You will be in a postmenopausal state until your last breath. It’s just another stage of life, such as early childhood, adolescence, middle age, etc.
What are the signs of postmenopause?
The symptoms after menopause are very similar to those during perimenopause, minus the unreliable periods; these should be done now. Some of the more common symptoms of postmenopausal syndrome are:
- hot flashes
- Night sweats
- sleep disorders
- emotional problems
- Physically and mentally exhausted
Of course, any symptoms you experience during perimenopause may persist after menopause. Possible postmenopausal symptoms may also include the following, says Jacobson:
- anxiety
- feeling depressed
- lack of sexual desire
- Vaginal symptoms (Jacobson says this could be “dryness, pain during sex,” etc.)
- recurrent cystitis
- Frequent urination
- Heartburn and slow bowel movements
- Dry skin and changes in skin texture
- thinning hair
On the bright side, the severity of these symptoms may lessen after menopause.
How to confirm after menopause?
“Menopause is another stage of life that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive lifespan,” Jacobson said. “Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing estrogen. It usually begins between the ages of 51 and 52. Most commonly, it occurs naturally after the age of 40 and without menstruation for more than 12 consecutive months (spontaneous menopause) amenorrhea) in women.
However, Jacobson also notes that a person may be diagnosed with any of the following postmenopausal conditions.
- Absence of menstruation for six months or more, meeting biochemical criteria for menopause (FSH >40 IU/L)
- Spontaneous amenorrhea ≥3 months with FSH>40IU/L and estradiol (E2)<0.21nmol/L
- Removal of both ovaries ≥6 weeks before screening (bilateral oophorectomy)
While postmenopause isn’t as shocking as it first sounds when you first hear it, it can increase your risk of health complications and chronic conditions, such as vitamin deficiencies or anemia. As you deal with changes in your body, your mental health can also be affected during this time. If you have any concerns, always contact a trusted health care provider.
