“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… ”.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

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 North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:

Postmenopause includes all the years beyond menopause”.3

The Australasian Menopause Society’s definition is:

“When a woman has had no periods for 12 consecutive months, she is considered to be postmenopausal”.4

FMP

What is FMP?

FMP can be an abbreviation for Final Menstrual Period.

Duration

How long does postmenopause last?

Postmenopause – or after menopause – lasts for the rest of our life. On page two in Prevention of Diseases After Menopause: Introduction the authors elaborate on:

“As the world population increases, along with an increase in life expectancy, many millions of women will be spending a third or more of their lives after menopause”.5

Postmenopause Differences

Do all women experience the same postmenopause?

No. All women do not experience the same postmenopause. Just as different women have a different perimenopause, different women also have a different postmenopause.

Menopause Symptoms

Do menopause symptoms stop when postmenopause starts?

Not necessarily. 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

Postmenopausal Vaginal Bleeding

What if I have postmenopausal vaginal bleeding?

In Postmenopausal Bleeding: What Causes Postmenopausal Bleeding? the (United States) 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”.8

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help with my postmenopause?

If you would like help with your postmenopause, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. The IMS remind us:

“The menopause transition should be used as an opportunity to visit your healthcare professional for a check-up, assess potential risks and proactively start to manage later life. Obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, cognitive decline and dementia, depression, and cancer are the key diseases to address”.9

Health Topics A-Z

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

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

Where may I find Links related to Postmenopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

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: 18 January 2024 | 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 August 2024
  2. Menopause Terminology: Glossary of Terms. Page 4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/education/menopause-terminology/ Accessed: 14 August 2024
  3. Menopause FAQs: An Introduction To Menopause – Q. What Is Postmenopause? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-an-introduction-to-menopause Accessed: 14 August 2024
  4. What Is Menopause? Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/185-what-is-menopause Accessed: 14 August 2024
  5. Lobo, R. A., Davis, S. R., De Villiers, T. J., Gompel, A., Henderson, V. W., Hodis, H. N., Lumsden, M. A., Mack, W. J., Shapiro, S. and Baber, R. J. Prevention of Diseases After Menopause: Introduction. 2014:2 https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/wmd-2014-white-pages-english.pdf Accessed: 14 August 2024
  6. What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition – Postmenopause. Last Updated: 18 January 2024 | 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 August 2024
  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 August 2024
  8. Postmenopausal Bleeding: What Causes Postmenopausal Bleeding? Last Reviewed 08 August 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21837-postmenopause Accessed: 14 August 2024
  9. Maintaining Health and Preventing Disease After the Menopause. 2014:2. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/wmd-2014-leaflet-english.pdf Accessed: 14 August 2024
Topic Last Updated: 26 October 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 August 2024