What's postmenopause?
You aren't exactly through the other side yet. The last leg on the menopause journey is actually two distinct stages.
“Postmenopause” sounds like being totally finished with menopause, doesn’t it? After all, postgrads have graduated; a postscript is the P.S. after a letter; postmodern art came in response to modernism. But when it comes to menopause, it turns out it’s not fully “over” just because it’s been a year since your last period.
Rather than being a monolith, postmenopause is divided into early postmenopause and late postmenopause — and each has unique symptoms and treatments.
What is menopause versus postmenopause?
You may already know that menopause is defined as not having your period for 12 months. Confusingly, that’s also called postmenopause.
“The terms ‘menopause’ and ‘postmenopause’ are used interchangeably, and they’re the same thing,” says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, M.D., the director for the Centre for Women's Health at the Mayo Clinic, medical director for The North American Menopause Society, and member of the WeightWatchers Scientific Advisory Board.
If that’s throwing you off, you’re not alone. Entire papers have been written about the inconsistencies in the criteria and reporting of each stage of menopause, even in scientific research.
What are the phases of postmenopause?
Postmenopause is also subdivided into two categories: early postmenopause and late postmenopause, according to the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW), which brings together the top researchers of reproductive aging in women.
Early postmenopause lasts approximately 5-8 years. After that span, you shift into late postmenopause, which is your phase for the rest of your life.
As more research emerges, it’s helping us rethink menopause not as a final destination, but as one stop on this weird journey of being a person with a body.
What can I expect in postmenopause?
During the first 1-2 years of early postmenopause, you’re most likely to experience vasomotor symptoms, like hot flashes. The good news is while early postmenopause lasts approximately 5-8 years, symptoms tend to calm down as your hormones like FSH and estradiol stabilize.
In late postmenopause, symptoms of vaginal dryness become increasingly prevalent, as well as urogenital atrophy (thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal and urinary tract tissues).
How can I treat my postmenopause symptoms?
For vasomotor symptoms, like hot flashes, in early menopause, menopause hormone therapy (MHT, commonly known as hormone replacement therapy or HRT), “is considered first line therapy for vasomotor symptoms,” says Faubion. This is most commonly administered via patch. With a provider, make sure you’re an appropriate candidate with no excess cardiovascular or breast cancer risk.
For the vaginal dryness and atrophy that is more common in late menopause, there are many options of medications you can be prescribed, according to Faubion. For more information about prescription medication, speak with a medical professional.
Learn more about the phases of menopause