What is the difference between menopause and postmenopause

Menopause officially kicks in when the ovaries produce so little estrogen that eggs are no longer released. This also causes your period to stop. You may enter menopause earlier than normal if you:. When it comes to menopause, most people think about the symptoms more than anything else. These can include those infamous hot flashes , but there are many other changes you might experience during this transition.

As estrogen levels drop, you might start experiencing symptoms of menopause. Perimenopause and menopause can also increase cholesterol levels. This is one reason why women in postmenopause are at an even higher risk for heart disease. Continue to have your cholesterol levels measured at least once a year.

Some possible explanations are hormonal imbalances or fibroids , both of which are treatable. However, you also want to rule out the possibility of cancer. You should also call your doctor if the symptoms of either perimenopause or menopause become severe enough to interfere with your daily life. There are both prescription and over-the-counter OTC treatments available for perimenopause and menopause. Some forms of estrogen may even help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Estrogen is available over the counter or by prescription. Shop for over-the-counter estrogen therapy. Regular exercise can help improve your mood, weight gain issues, and even ironically your hot flashes. Plan to include some form of physical activity in your daily routine. Try doing a relaxing activity right before bed, such as gentle yoga or a warm bath. Avoid daytime naps, as this can interfere with your ability to sleep at night. Perimenopause and menopause are both transitional phases that indicate an end to your reproductive years.

With all of the available treatments, you can get through these stages more comfortably with a bit more freedom, too. To help you get a handle on menopause, here are 11 things you should know about this transitional stage of life.

No cramps, backache, headache, or mood swings that come with your menstrual cycle. PMS is a thing of the past! Plus, you no longer have to concern yourself about unplanned pregnancy although protecting yourself from STDs is still a must. On the other hand, postmenopause may bring new health issues. Some are part of the typical aging process.

Talk to your doctor about any health issues that cause discomfort or pain. Estrogen may have a positive effect on the inner layer of artery wall, helping to regulate blood flow.

Even though heart disease risk goes up after menopause, taking estrogen as a medication can actually increase your risk further. There is a direct relationship between the lack of estrogen after menopause and bone loss. Lower levels of estrogen may cause the urethra lining to thin. Also, the pelvic muscles around the urethra may get weaker due to aging or vaginal childbirth. This can increase the risk of bladder leakage incontinence , urinary tract infections, and other urogynecology problems.

Estrogen helps maintain the natural lubrication in the walls of the vagina. Lowered estrogen during menopause causes the vaginal tissues to become thinner and more easily irritated during sex—or dry out. This can lead to an increase in urinary tract infections and genitourinary syndrome of menopause, also known as atrophic vaginitis or vaginal atrophy. Reduced estrogen may lower your metabolic rate, which prompts your body to store fat instead of burning it. Age-related weight gain often occurs with a natural decrease in physical activity.

Since menopause is caused by a decrease in estrogen and progesterone, why not just replace them and continue on? Hormone replacement therapy HRT is an option for many women who wish to combat the health risks that increase during their postmenopausal years. But this therapy may have its own risks.

Benefits : Estrogen therapy with or without progesterone may relieve hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and protect against bone loss. Risks : Estrogen-only therapy may increase your risk of breast and uterine cancer, stroke, heart disease, and deep vein thrombosis.

Combine hormone therapy estrogen with progesterone could cause an increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and gallbladder disease. Most experts recommend taking the lowest dose HRT for the shortest duration. The older you are, the greater the risks. Traditional hormone therapy uses plant derived, man made hormones or hormones found in the urine of pregnant horses.

Patients can take it orally, via patch, or topically to the genital area. Bioidentical hormones are plant derived or man-made hormones similar to the ones your body produces.

Some bioidentical hormones are the same as those used in conventional products. Others are not FDA approved and are available only from compounding pharmacies. Bioidentical products can include a variety of estrogens, progesterone, testosterone or other hormones. Common bioidentical preparations include one or more of three estrogens: estradiol, estriol, and estrone.

The age that perimenopause begins varies. In the United States, the average woman is Menopause is identified after the fact, Dr. Santoro says. When you look back at your calendar and see that you have gone one full year with absolutely no menstrual bleeding, then you are in menopause.

You might go a long stretch of months without getting a period, but if one eventually comes before 12 months have passed, you are still perimenopausal.

Some women are even in their sixties. Typically, women reach menopause around the same age as their mothers or other women in their family. Women in perimenopause experience a variety of symptoms. The most common are hot flashes, trouble sleeping often from flashes at night , vaginal dryness , and mood changes, sometimes including depression.

But women complain of a wide variety of symptoms that strike them during this time , including having an odd taste in the mouth or the feeling of zaps under their skin. Of course, some women get them earlier. Women who have moderate to severe hot flashes may experience them beyond the perimenopause stage.

In fact, research published in September in the journal Menopause found that many women continue having hot flashes for nearly a decade after menopause, although the severity of the symptoms begins declining after about two years.