Post Menopause Symptoms
When menopause is considered officially “over”, the post menopausal woman is often pleased and has high hopes that the hormone-related symptoms of menopause will cease and life can resume as normal.
Unfortunately, there are post menopause symptoms that many women will continue to feel after the official “end” of menopause, most of them due to the lack of estrogen in the body and the continue fluctuation of hormones.
After menopause’s official end, you may still experience post menopause symptoms for a period of time (while some women will have these symptoms sporadically for the rest of their lifetimes).
Post Menopause Symptoms: Bleeding
One of the most worrisome post menopause symptoms is bleeding – and all incidences of bleeding after menopause should be checked out by your OB/GYN or other healthcare professional. While vaginal bleeding post menopause may be nothing to worry about, it is often the signal of a serious underlying gynecological problem. It is always best to remember the old adage “better safe than sorry” and have any bleeding post menopause checked out – even though most instances of vaginal bleeding at this time are related to the fluctuating hormonal environment of the post menopausal woman.
Post Menopause Symptoms: Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are a common post menopause symptom, and many women experience them for a few months or even a few years after menopause’s official end – although there have been women that complain of hot flashes for an entire decade after the cessation of menopause. It is important, however, to consult with your doctor if you experience the other symptoms that you normally associate with hot flashes, like dizziness, fatigue, headache, palpitation of the heart, and insomnia – as these are also symptoms that have a correlation to other illnesses.
Post Menopause Symptoms: Vaginal Discharge
Most incidences of vaginal discharge after menopause indicate atrophy of the vaginal wall, which is due to the decreasing levels of estrogen in the body – and is completely normal. Discharge from atrophy is watery and thin, and may be tinged slightly with blood. There can, however, be other reasons for vaginal discharge – so this post menopause symptom also warrants a visit to your OB/GYN or other health care practitioner.
Post Menopause Symptoms: Facial Hair Growth
Fluctuating levels of estrogen and testosterone can cause facial hair growth following menopause. It is important to note that Retain A, which is found in many skin care creams that fight aging, wrinkles, and brown spots on the skin, can cause or accelerate facial hair growth in much the way that minoxidil (which is used for hair regrowth in men) does– which makes these products a “catch 22″ for the post-menopausal woman.
Coping with Post Menopause Symptoms
While it may appear that the post menopause symptoms you are experiencing put you at the mercy of your own body, coping with these symptoms can best be accomplished by following a post menopause diet and exercise regimen. Both diet and exercise can play a pivotal role in your health in the years following menopause. To combat post menopause symptoms:
- Take a good multivitamin that includes Vitamin D, B6, and B12, folic acid Vitamin K, boron, magnesium and selenium.
- Take a high quality essential fatty acid supplement, such as fish oil.
- Eat a balanced diet that is high in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean meats and poultry and that is low in dairy, sodium, saturated fats, and refined sugars. Avoid processed convenience foods.
- Exercise for thirty minutes most days each week, even if you only go for a brisk walk.
Post menopause symptoms will decrease over time; a healthy diet and exercise plan will help you stave off the symptoms you have to live a better quality of life.
