Postmenopause

Postmenopause is the final stage of the menopausal transition. It covers the years from menopause – that is, the date when a woman did not have her period for 12 months in a row – onwards.
Women typically reach their final periods between the ages of 45 and 55. This means that they may live in postmenopause for several decades, oftentimes a third or even half of their lifespan.
Postmenopause is a natural result of the ovaries ending their reproductive functions, following the depletion of the eggs they stored throughout a woman’s life. Because the majority of the production of estrogen and progesterone took place within the ovaries, their shutdown causes consistently low levels of said hormones during postmenopause.

Besides persisting symptoms, postmenopausal women face an increased risk of several health complications.
Throughout their reproductive lives, estrogen and progesterone served numerous health-protective functions, like preventing heart disease and maintaining bone density. Now that their levels remain low, those protective roles are not as well expressed, making women more susceptible of the following menopause problems:
• Osteoporosis. Estrogen loss after menopause may lead to the development of osteoporosis, a disease characterized by reduced bone density. This causes bones to become brittle and weak, increasing women’s risk of fractures.
• Heart disease. Hormonal lows may also may lead to an increase in the levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglycerides, elevating the risk of developing heart disease after menopause.
• Hypertension. After menopause, about 75% of women have high blood pressure, either due to hormonal shifts, weight gain, or aging itself.4 Untreated hypertension is linked to complications, such as stroke or heart attacks.
Certain postmenopausal lifestyle habits, including leading a sedentary lifestyle and smoking, may further worsen the risks of the aforementioned and other health complications.

Non-conventional medicine gives women various options for staying healthy, including herbal supplements for menopause:
• Phytoestrogenic supplements. Naturally rich in estrogen-like compounds, called phytoestrogens, these supplements can help balance hormones in the short-term. Great options include black cohosh and red clover, among others.
• Hormone-regulating supplements. To maintain hormonal balance long-term during postmenopause, women can consider herbal supplements, like Macafem, which act directly on the endocrine glands to regulate their functions.

Many women will not need any pharmacological treatment for postmenopause symptoms. If necessary, menopause medications may be suggested by a doctor based on the severity of persisting symptoms, age, health status, and risks factors.
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can potentially reduce postmenopausal risks. However, due to serious health concerns with its long-term use, HRT is recommended short-term only for severe symptoms or significant health risks.
• Other medications will be tailored to experienced symptoms, including antidepressants and osteoporosis medications, among others.
Postmenopausal women may also take advantage of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, to reduce the emotional as well as physical burden of the transition.

When women finally reach postmenopause, they often wonder about their health in the years to come. Because of low reproductive hormone levels characteristic of the years after menopause, women face higher risks of a number of health complications. This includes osteoporosis and heart disease, not to mention various symptoms that may persist into this life stage from the perimenopausal years. However, with knowledge, regular check-ups, and a handful of healthy practices, women can maintain good health and decrease serious health risks long into their postmenopausal years.