Post Menopause Symptoms and How to Prepare Yourself

So, you have finally reached menopause. You have not had a period for twelve whole months – no spotting, no nothing. You are finally done. You have survived – except you are not quite finished. You see, you still have a variety of post menopause symptoms with which you have to deal. Menopause is a process, not a catch all term. First you will go through pre menopause, which some people also call perimenopause. Other people think they are separate stages.

Whichever you choose, the point is that you go through those periods before you hit menopause itself. Menopause is a very specific term. Like say, if you have not gone an  entire year without menstruating, you have not truly experienced it. Once it has been a full year, however, then you have cleared the really major hump. Now you simply have to go through post menopause. All things considered, it is probably the easiest stage to get past. Still, there are some symptoms associated with it, and you would do well to know what they are.

For the most part, the majority of women are absolutely ecstatic when they hit post menopause. They are elated and prone to celebration because it means an end to all the hot flashes, night sweats, and mercurial mood swings. Unfortunately, that is not quite the case. Your hormones do not magically settle down when you hit that twelve month marker. For a while at least, your hormone levels will continue to fluctuate and generally do whatever they want to do. The continued lack of estrogen can cause a number of lingering, tenacious symptoms.

 For instance, it is not uncommon to find yourself spotting during post menopause – though it is worrisome. Some spotting is generally a normal, typical occurrence. All the same, if this happens to you, check with your doctor right away. Although it is to be expected, it can be indicative of more serious problems.

Now, less serious but incredibly frustrating are hot flashes. The bad news is, these will continue during post menopause. The good news is that will start to slack off and disappear. Normally, they start to fade away anywhere between two months and two years after you have completed menopause. In rare cases women have experienced them for much longer. However, your hormones do eventually settle down and it is a pretty safe bet that you will not have to deal with these for long.

The decreasing level of estrogen in your body can also lead to a vaginal discharge. Basically, the walls of your vagina are atrophying. However because this could also be indicative of other problems, see your doctor if you experience it. Mind you, it too is a common occurrence. Still, it is better to be safe than sorry.

You may also experience hair growth on your face during post menopause. This is due to both the change in the amount of estrogen your body produces, as well as fluctuations in testosterone.

A good multivitamin can help you deal with post menopausal symptoms. So can vitamins designed to supplement fatty acids. Calcium and magnesia supplements can help as well – plus they can guard against osteoporosis.

As mentioned, the best news is that the majority of these symptoms will let up and ease off gradually. You will not have to deal with them forever. In addition to vitamins and supplements, a healthy diet and exercise can help get your hormones – and your life – back into balance.