Postmenopause

Postmenopause

“Postmenopause is a term to describe
the time after you’ve gone through menopause.
When you’re in postmenopause (or postmenopausal)…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Postmenopause Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • After/Beyond Menopause
  • Postmenopausal
  • Post Menopause/Post-Menopause/Postmenopause

DefinitionPostmenopause

What is the definition of postmenopause?

DotS the definition of postmenopause may vary. The International Menopause Society’s (IMS) definition is:

“Postmenopause – the stage after the final menstrual period”.2

The Australasian Menopause Society’s definition is:

“When a woman has had no periods for 12 consecutive months, she is considered to be postmenopausal”.3

The (United States) Cleveland Clinic’s definition is:

“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)”.4

Duration

How long does postmenopause last?

In Postmenopause: How Long Does Postmenopause Last? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic note:

“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”.5

Menopause Symptoms

Do menopause symptoms stop when postmenopause starts?

Not necessarily. In Menopause: What Is Postmenopause? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:


“As your body adjusts to lower hormone levels you might have fewer or less troubling menopausal symptoms. For some women, though, menopausal symptoms extend into postmenopause”.6

Chronic Medical Conditions

Is there an association between chronic medical conditions and postmenopause?

In Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition: Are There Any Health Risks Associated With Menopause? the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

“A woman’s risk for these chronic medical conditions can increase after menopause:

  • Cardiovascular disease
    The decline in estrogen increases the risk of heart attack and stroke
  • Osteoporosis
    During the first few years after menopause, women may rapidly lose bone density, leading to an enhanced risk for bone fractures
  • Genitourinary syndrome of menopause
    As vaginal tissues lose elasticity, and becomes thin and dry, women may struggle with pain during intercourse. The urethra also becomes dry and irritated, which may increase the risk of infection. Some women may need to urinate more often and may experience leakage, also known as urinary incontinence
  • Weight gain
    Because of the decrease in basal metabolic rate after menopause, women may need to decrease caloric intake and increase exercise to maintain their weight”.7

Hormone Therapy

Is hormone therapy the “fountain of youth”?

On page three of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 1. Who Is MHT For? Who Might Not Need MHT?, the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) Leaflet for Women for World Menopause Day 2024, the IMS note:

“Women who go through menopause at the natural age (after 45) and have no bothersome symptoms usually don’t need MHT. Some people believe MHT is a “fountain of youth”, but there’s little scientific evidence for that. It’s important to remember MHT is not recommended solely to prevent aging, memory loss, or dementia”.8
Postmenopause

Postmenopausal Vaginal Bleeding

What if I have postmenopausal vaginal bleeding?

In Postmenopausal Bleeding: Overview – What Is Postmenopausal Bleeding? the Cleveland Clinic note:

“Postmenopausal bleeding is vaginal bleeding that occurs after menopause. Menopause is when a woman hasn’t had a menstrual period in 12 months. Bleeding from your vagina after menopause isn’t normal”.9

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Following postmenopause, is it still possible to acquire sexually transmitted infections?

In Menopause: Changes Associated With Menopause the World Health Organization explain:

“During perimenopause and following menopause, it is still possible to acquire sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, through unprotected sexual contact, including oral, anal and vaginal sex. The thinning of the vaginal wall after menopause increases the chances of lesions and tears, thereby increasing the risk of HIV transmission during vaginal sex”.10

Health Care Provider

After menopause, what is it important to be mindful of?

The JH remind us:

“It’s important to look after your health after menopause. Menopause, ageing or a combination of both increases your risk of developing certain health conditions”.11

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Postmenopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Postmenopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. Are You Up To Date on Your Preventive Care?
  2. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  3. BMS TV: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  4. Bleeding After Menopause? Here’s What You Need To Know
  5. Bone Health
  6. Build Better Bones.org [International Osteoporosis Foundation]
  7. Can You Start HRT After 60? What the Evidence Shows
  8. Cleveland Clinic Releases New National Report on the State of Women’s Health In the U.S. [07 May 2026]
  9. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
  10. Complementary Medicines and Therapies for Hot Flushes
  11. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
    Postmenopause
  12. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding—When To See A Clinician
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Nutrition At Menopause and Why It Is Important
  14. Cutting Through the Myths Around Testosterone
  15. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Management (EN)
  16. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Menopause and Mental Health: Managing Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive Changes
  17. FDA Direct: Removing Black Box Warnings for HRT (Part 1/2)
  18. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  19. Find A Practitioner [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  20. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  21. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  22. HRT Questions Answered
  23. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
  24. Healthy Ageing Hub
  25. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 50s
  26. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 60s
  27. Heart Health for Women [+ Videos]
  28. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
  29. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  30. Hot Flashes
  31. Hot Flashes
  32. How Can I Keep My Heart Healthy After Menopause?
  33. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Bladder Leakage
  34. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Menopause
    Black Women’s Menopause
  35. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Painful Sex
  36. How Vaginal Hormones Can Transform the Health of Women
  37. IMS Interview Series for Women: Lifestyle Medicine With Prof. Rossella Nappi | For Women
  38. Infographic: Staying Healthy During and After Menopause
    Postmenopause
  39. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  40. Is It Too Late To Start HRT?
  41. It Is Not Just Incontinence – Common Bladder Problems Around Menopause
  42. Jean Hailes Healthy Aging Podcasts
    Postmenopause
  43. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – After the Menopause [Other Languages and Formats]
  44. Life’s Essential 8
  45. Living With A Chronic Condition
  46. Liz Earle on How To Age Well
  47. May Is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month!
    Postmenopause
  48. May Is Pelvic Pain Awareness Month
    Postmenopause
  49. Menopause
  50. Menopause
    Black Women’s Menopause
  51. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Postmenopause
  52. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – Stages of Menopause: Postmenopause
    Postmenopause
  53. Menopause and Sleep
  54. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  55. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]Postmenopause
  56. Mental Health Awareness Week [11-17 May 2026, United Kingdom]
    Postmenopause
  57. Mental Health Month [May, United States]
    Postmenopause
  58. Midlife Weight Gain
  59. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  60. National Women’s Health Week [10 – 16 May 2026]
    Postmenopause
  61. National Women’s Health Week (NWHW) From the FDA Office of Women’s Health
    Postmenopause
  62. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  63. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
    Postmenopause
  64. New IMS Recommendations: Midlife Body Changes
  65. Numbers You Should Know for Your Heart: What To Ask Your Doctor
  66. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – Evaluating High-Risk Patients In Menopause At Risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
  67. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – Weight, Wellness, and Women At Midlife: Rethinking Obesity In the Menopause Transition
  68. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – What’s Hot? Options for Treatment of Hot Flushes 2025
  69. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars 2024 – Skin and Connective Tissue Aging At the Time of the Menopause
  70. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars 2025 – Lifestyle Medicine
  71. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars 2025 – The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  72. Osteoporosis
  73. Osteoporosis To Prevent Fractures: Screening [Final Recommendation Statement United States Preventive Services Task Force
  74. Pathtogoodbonehealth.org [Your Path To Good Bone Health, Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, United States]
  75. Pelvic Floor Health | Dr Louise Newson LIVE
  76. Postmenopause
  77. Postmenopause: Symptoms and Impact
  78. Professional Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Professional Videos and Podcasts – Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder HSDD—Open the Door To Discussion
  79. Prosayla Supported By ISSWSH [International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health]
  80. Q&A: At 20 Years, WHI Emphasizes Personalized Postmenopausal Care, Shared Decision-Making
  81. Resources: Fact Sheets [Multiply Languages]
    Postmenopause
  82. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing
  83. Surprising Menopause Symptoms | Dr Louise Newson Live
  84. The Menopause Society Show: Menopause and Sexual Desire
  85. The Menopause Society Show: Menopause and Weight Gain
  86. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  87. The Women’s Health Initiative Trials: Clinical Messages
  88. Tip Sheet: What To Know About Post-Menopause Health Risks
  89. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It?
  90. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  91. What Is Ovarian Cancer?
  92. What Is the Difference Between Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause?
  93. Why Heart Disease In Women Is Still Being Missed
  94. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  95. World Menopause Day 2025
    Postmenopause
  96. World Osteoporosis Day
    Postmenopause
  97. World Ovarian Cancer Day [08 May 2026]
    Postmenopause Postmenopause
  98. You Are Stronger Than Sarcopenia
  99. Your Daily Dose: Let’s Unpack Menopause
  100. Your Daily Dose: Science Unlocks the Potential To Age Well
  101. Your Daily Dose: Wellness Is Active, Not Passive.

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Postmenopause: Overview – What Is Postmenopause? 08 August 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21837-postmenopause Accessed: 09 May 2026
  2. Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Terms. Page 4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/education/menopause-terminology/ Accessed: 09 May 2026
  3. What Is Menopause? Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/185-what-is-menopause Accessed: 09 May 2026
  4. Postmenopause: Overview – What Is Postmenopause? 08 August 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21837-postmenopause Accessed: 09 May 2026
  5. Postmenopause: How Long Does Postmenopause Last? 08 August 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21837-postmenopause Accessed: 09 May 2026
  6. Menopause: What Is Postmenopause? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-what-is-postmenopause Accessed: 09 May 2026
  7. Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition: Are There Any Health Risks Associated With Menopause? 26 April 2023. Mayo Clinic https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/menopause-ensuring-a-tranquil-transition/ Accessed: 09 May 2026
  8. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 3. When Should MHT Be Started and Stopped? Long-Term Use. 2024:3. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 09 May 2026
  9. Postmenopausal Bleeding: Overview – What Is Postmenopausal Bleeding? Last Reviewed 15 January 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21549-postmenopausal-bleeding Accessed: 09 May 2026
  10. Menopause: Changes Associated With Menopause. 16 October 2024. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause Accessed: 23 November 2025
  11. Menopause: What Is Postmenopause? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-what-is-postmenopause Accessed: 09 May 2026
Topic Last Updated: 09 May 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 09 May 2026

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