Postmenopause

Postmenopause: What It Means and How to Stay Healthy

Postmenopause is the stage of life after menopause. It starts once you have gone 12 months in a row without a period. It lasts for the rest of your life. Some menopause symptoms can carry on for a while, but they usually get milder.

Please note: This page shares general health information in simple words. It is not medical advice. Every body is different, so talk to a doctor or gynaecologist before you try any treatment.

Key Facts About Postmenopause

  • Postmenopause begins 12 months after your last period.

  • In India, women reach menopause at about 46 years on average.

  • Your estrogen level stays low in this stage.

  • Hot flashes and other symptoms often get milder over time.

  • Low estrogen raises the risk of weak bones and heart disease.

  • Any bleeding from the vagina after menopause must be checked by a doctor.

What Is Postmenopause?

Life with periods has stages. Perimenopause comes first. This is when periods become irregular. Menopause is the day that marks 12 months without a period. Postmenopause is every day after that.

In postmenopause, your ovaries make very little estrogen. Your periods have stopped for good, and you can no longer get pregnant naturally.

When Does Postmenopause Start?

Postmenopause starts once you have had no period for 12 months in a row. You only know you have reached it by looking back.

A large Indian study found that women in India reach menopause at about 46 years of age on average. That is earlier than in many Western countries, where the average is about 51. So many Indian women enter postmenopause in their late 40s.

What Symptoms Can Continue After Menopause?

Many women still have some symptoms in postmenopause, but they are usually milder. These can include:

Some symptoms, like vaginal dryness, may slowly get worse without care. This is part of a condition called genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Treatment can help, so talk to your doctor.

What Health Risks Go Up After Menopause?

Estrogen helps protect your bones and heart. When it stays low, some health risks go up.

Weak Bones

Bones lose strength faster after menopause. This can lead to osteoporosis. Bones become thin and break more easily. Read more about menopause bone health.

Heart Disease

Estrogen helps keep blood vessels relaxed. It also helps keep cholesterol in balance. After menopause, cholesterol can build up more easily in the arteries. By about age 70, women have the same risk of heart disease as men of the same age.

Vaginal and Urinary Changes

Low estrogen can make the skin of the vagina and the area around the bladder thin and dry. This can cause discomfort, pain during sex and more urine infections.

How Can You Stay Healthy in Postmenopause?

Healthy habits can lower your risks and help you feel good:

  • Stay active most days. Walking, dancing and yoga all count.

  • Do exercises that build muscle, like lifting light weights, two times a week.

  • Eat foods rich in calcium, like milk, curd, paneer and ragi.

  • Get some safe sunlight and ask your doctor about vitamin D.

  • Eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, dal and whole grains.

  • Do not smoke, and limit alcohol.

  • Keep a healthy weight.

  • Go for regular health checks, like blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol tests.

  • Ask your doctor if you need a bone density test.

Sirona Menopause Kit

The Sirona Menopause Kit is a set of four Sirona menopause products. It includes the Menopause Test Kit and the Cooling Mist for hot flashes. It can help with some everyday comforts. It does not treat health risks like weak bones or heart disease, so keep up your health checks.

Is Bleeding After Menopause Normal?

No. Any bleeding or spotting from the vagina after menopause should be checked by a doctor. Most of the time the cause is not serious. But it can sometimes be a sign of a problem that needs treatment early. Read our full guide on bleeding after menopause.

When Should You See a Doctor?

See a doctor or gynaecologist if:

  • You have any bleeding or spotting after menopause.

  • Symptoms like hot flashes, dryness or poor sleep affect your daily life.

  • You have pain during sex.

  • You get urine infections again and again.

  • You have a fall or a bone break from a small bump.

  • You want to know about tests to check your bones and heart.

Related Terms

Shop menopause care: Sirona Menopause Collection

Sources

  1. Cleveland Clinic. Postmenopause. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21837-postmenopause

  2. Office on Women's Health (US). Menopause and your health. https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-and-your-health

  3. Ahuja M. Age of menopause and determinants of menopause age: A PAN India survey by IMS. Journal of Mid-Life Health, 2016. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5051232/

  4. NHS Inform. After the menopause. https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/later-years-around-50-years-and-over/menopause-and-post-menopause-health/after-the-menopause/

  5. Sirona Menopause Kit product page. https://thesirona.com/products/menopause-kit-1

Disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a qualified doctor. It was written by the Sirona Content Team using the trusted medical sources listed above. Always talk to your doctor or gynaecologist about your symptoms and before starting any medicine, supplement or product. If you have heavy bleeding, chest pain, trouble breathing or severe pain, get medical help right away.