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Postmenopause Hormone Levels

Menopause can be separated into three basic stages: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. With perimenopause, it's essentially the time frame leading up to menopause, where you still menstruate, but undergo great fluctuations in hormone levels. Menopause is the span of 12 months where you no longer have your period. And postmenopause begins after this year has passed without a menstrual cycle. Hormone levels no longer rise and fall as they did leading up to menopause.

  1. Hormones

    • When you officially reach postmenopause, you essentially experience a leveling off in your hormone levels. Progesterone is no longer made in your ovaries. Estrogen is right around 40 percent of its "normal" level. And you may also have an elevated amount of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in your bloodstream. FSH is a glycoprotein hormone secreted by the pituitary gland.

    Symptoms

    • In postmenopause, the most common symptom you'll face is actually a cessation of those symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause. You should no longer suffer mood swings, hot flashes and insomnia. However, you may still experience some weight gain and thinning of your hair.

    Effects

    • Due to the change in your hormone levels, you are at a greater risk of developing certain diseases and conditions. One of the more serious is cardiovascular disease. There appears to be a link between lowered estrogen levels and heart disease, so you may develop coronary artery disease, high blood pressure or arrhythmias during this time of life. You're also more likely to develop osteoporosis (loss of bone density) and experience urinary incontinence.

    Treatment

    • While there may be treatment for perimenopause and menopause, postmenopause is more about lifestyle than prescription drugs. Maintaining a well-balanced diet, daily exercise and a life free of tobacco are three of the most important facets of postmenopausal care. Other than that, you should continue to treat conditions such as hypertension, high blood cholesterol and osteoporosis as recommended by your physician.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Even though your reproductive years have come to pass, you should still schedule regular checkups with your doctor. These should include basic physicals, mammograms, blood-pressure checks, Pap tests and cholesterol screenings. The most effective way of treating any condition that may develop during postmenopause is prevention.

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