Postmenopause Stage
Postmenopause takes place after you have surpassed a full year without a menstrual cycle and menopause has occurred. This stage lasts for the rest of your life.
During this time, many of the symptoms that are associated with perimenopause have disappeared, or gradually decrease. However, due to lower levels of hormones like estrogen, postmenopausal women are at an increased risk for various health conditions, including:
● Osteoporosis
● Cardiovascular disease
● Vaginal atrophy
● Dementia
● Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
How to Address Perimenopausal Symptoms
Here are some tips to not only help alleviate some of the most common symptoms of perimenopause, but also reduce your risk of long-term disease:
● Diet: During this time, women do not process sugars effectively, putting them at risk of glucose intolerance and diabetes. Lower levels of estrogen also contribute to increased levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. Therefore, a whole foods diet focuses on a variety of vegetables, low glycemic fruits, unprocessed whole grains, organic free-range chicken/ eggs, grass-fed beef, and sustainably sourced low-mercury fish. Eating this way can also help reduce some of the common symptoms experienced during perimenopause such as hot flashes, brain fog, fatigue, and acid reflux.
● Exercise: Lower levels of estrogen contributes to a reduction in bone density, and increased risk of osteoporosis. As testosterone levels drop, maintaining muscle mass becomes increasingly difficult. Incorporating daily low-impact exercise can be beneficial, such as brisk walks, swimming, cycling, or yoga, and strength training 2–3 times weekly to maintain bone density and muscle mass. Regular exercise can also aid with improving mental health, weight gain, and low energy.
● Sleep: Perimenopause has a significant impact on sleep. Insufficient or poor-quality sleep has been shown to have a negative impact on long-term health and may be one of the risk factors for developing dementia. Poor sleep also leads to chronic fatigue and brain fog. Thus, women must focus on improving sleep hygiene. Consider using an eye mask, white noise machine, disconnecting from devices at least one hour before bedtime, and maintaining a regular sleep/wake schedule to help achieve at least 7 hours of quality sleep each night. Some supplements that might also be beneficial are magnesium glycinate, L-theanine, and melatonin.
● Stress red
uction: Lower levels of estrogen lead to increased levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in our bodies. This leads to numerous mood disorders in perimenopausal women, such as anxiety, depression, feelings of rage, and irritability. Focusing on reducing stress with journaling, meditation, breath work, or spending time in nature can be very beneficial. Supplements containing adaptogens (ashwagandha, rhodiola, chaga, holy basil) can help the body cope with these increased levels of stress.
● Gut health: Fluctuating hormones impact the health of our gut microbiome. As such, avoiding foods and environmental toxins that contribute to inflammation in our bodies is essential. Try to buy organic produce whenever possible, and reduce or eliminate pre-packaged foods, alcohol, refined carbohydrates, and processed meats. Incorporating probiotic foods, such as kimchi or sauerkraut, or taking a probiotic supplement can help repopulate the good bacteria in our gut.
● Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Newer forms of HRT have been shown to have a significant impact on reducing or eliminating the symptoms of perimenopause, as well as, reducing the risk of several chronic diseases that affect women during this time. Recent evidence shows that these newer formulations (topical estradiol and oral micronized progesterone) do not, in fact, increase the risk of breast cancer or blood clots. This is an option that really should be offered to all women who can safely use HRT, so they may make an informed decision on not only improving their current symptoms but also protecting their long-term well-being.
To learn more about perimenopause and other women’s health issues, be sure to read Dr. Kavita Desai’s new book, Lady Parts: Putting Women’s Health Back Into Women’s Hands, and follow her women’s health & wellness company, Revivele, onInstagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!