Postmenopause

“Postmenopause is the time after menopause.
As your body adjusts to lower hormone levels,
you may have less menopausal symptoms – or…”.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

Definition

PostmenopauseWhat 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 Menopause Society’s (formerly the North American Menopause Society) definition is:

“Postmenopause: The span of time after menopause (the final menstrual period)”.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 What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition – Postmenopause the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:


“Postmenopause is the time after menopause.

As your body adjusts to lower hormone levels, you may have less menopausal symptoms – or they may even disappear – but some women still experience menopausal symptoms for years after their final period”.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: What Causes Postmenopausal Bleeding? the Cleveland Clinic note:

“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”.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, as changes due to ageing and lower levels of oestrogen can increase 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

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. Are You Up To Date on Your Preventive Care?
  2. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  3. PostmenopauseBMS Statement on Testosterone
  4. BMS TV: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  5. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  6. BMS TV: Urogenital Atrophy
  7. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  8. Build Better Bones.org [International Osteoporosis Foundation]
  9. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  10. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Menopause
  11. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  12. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Delaying Menopause Through Ovarian Tissue Freezing
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Nutrition At Menopause and Why It Is Important
  14. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
  15. February Is American Heart Month
    Postmenopause
  16. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  17. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  18. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  19. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  20. HRT Questions Answered
  21. Healthy Ageing
  22. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 50s
  23. Healthy Living By Age: Healthy Living In Your 60s
  24. Heart Disease and Stroke In Women
  25. Heart Health After Menopause
  26. Here’s What You Need To Know About Menopause [Video]
  27. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
  28. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  29. Hot Flashes
  30. Hot Flashes
  31. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  32. How Menopause Impacts Your Health
  33. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Bladder Leakage
    Postmenopause
  34. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Painful Sex
  35. Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated
  36. Is It Too Late To Start HRT?
  37. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – After the Menopause [Other Languages and Formats]
  38. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing, Intimacy and Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life] [Other Languages and Formats]
  39. Life’s Essential 8
  40. Living With A Chronic Condition
  41. Maintaining A Healthy Diet and Weight
  42. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  43. Mayo Clinic Minute: Combating Weight Gain During Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  44. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video]
  45. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  46. Mayo Clinic Minute: Relationship Between Food, Disease Stronger Than You May Think
  47. Menopause
  48. Menopause
    Postmenopause
  49. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Postmenopause
  50. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – Stages of Menopause: Postmenopause
    Postmenopause
  51. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  52. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated with Menopause and Midlife
  53. Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease and Using HRT To Treat Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  54. Menopause and Sleep
  55. Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition
  56. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024] Postmenopause
  57. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024
  58. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  59. Midlife Weight Gain
  60. National Women’s Health Week [12-18 May 2024, United States]: Day 6 – May 17: Reproductive Health From Puberty To Menopause and Beyond
    Postmenopause
  61. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  62. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  63. Numbers You Should Know for Your Heart: What To Ask Your Doctor
  64. Osteoporosis
  65. Osteoporosis To Prevent Fractures: Screening [Final Recommendation Statement United States Preventive Services Task Force
  66. Pathtogoodbonehealth.org [Your Path To Good Bone Health, Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, United States]
  67. Postmenopausal Heart Health: What To Expect
  68. Postmenopause
  69. Postmenopause: Symptoms and Impact
  70. Prosayla Supported By ISSWSH [International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health]
  71. Q&A: At 20 Years, WHI Emphasizes Personalized Postmenopausal Care, Shared Decision-Making
  72. Screening for Osteoporosis
  73. Staying Healthy During and After Menopause
  74. Taking It To Heart: Addressing Cardiovascular Disease In Women [+ Video]
  75. Testosterone and the Menopause
  76. The Benefits and Risks of Menopause Hormone Therapy for the Cardiovascular System In Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  77. The Connection Between Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease Risks
  78. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
    Postmenopause
  79. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  80. The Women’s Health Initiative Trials: Clinical Messages
  81. Tip Sheet: What To Know About Post-Menopause Health Risks
  82. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  83. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  84. Vaginal Dryness
  85. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It?
  86. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  87. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  88. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Preventing Bone Loss At Menopause
  89. Video: Menopause Symptoms May Be Associated With Later Health Risks
  90. Webinars: Previous – Approach To Bone Health In the Perimenopause and Postmenopause?
  91. Webinars: Previous – Recommendations on Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
  92. Webinars: Previous – Skin and Connective Tissue Ageing at the Time of the Menopause
  93. What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition – Postmenopause
  94. What To Expect In Each Stage of Menopause
  95. World Menopause Day 2023
  96. World Menopause Day 2023: Patient Information Leaflet – Cardiovascular Disease: What Women Need To Know [Multiply Languages]
  97. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  98. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women – The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  99. World Osteoporosis Day 2024 [10 October 2024]
  100. You Are Stronger than Sarcopenia [Video]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition – Postmenopause. Last Updated: 03 March 2025 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause#the-menopause-transition Accessed: 14 March 2025
  2. Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Terms. Page 4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/education/menopause-terminology/ Accessed: 14 March 2025
  3. What Is Menopause? Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/185-what-is-menopause Accessed: 14 March 2025
  4. Menopause Definitions: P. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-glossary Accessed: 14 March 2025
  5. Postmenopause: How Long Does Postmenopause Last? 08 August 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21837-postmenopause Accessed: 14 March 2025
  6. What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition – Postmenopause. Last Updated:03 March 2025 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause#the-menopause-transition Accessed: 14 March 2025
  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: 14 March 2025
  8. Postmenopausal Bleeding: What Causes Postmenopausal Bleeding? Last Reviewed 08 August 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21837-postmenopause Accessed: 14 March 2025
  9. Menopause: Changes Associated With Menopause. 16 October 2024. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause Accessed: 14 March 2025
  10. 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: 14 March 2025
  11. What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition – Postmenopause: What Changes After Menopause? Last Updated: 03 March 2025 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause#the-menopause-transition Accessed: 14 March 2025
Topic Last Updated: 14 March 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 March 2025

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