Signs and Signals: How to Tell If Menopause Has Come to an End

The beginning of menopause is more difficult to identify for some women than others, but when menopause is truly in place, there’s clear evidence: the end of your period. Without that same kind of definitive marker, how can you tell if menopause has come to an end?

Knowing whether you’re in perimenopause, menopause or postmenopause is important to receiving the most appropriate forms of care and treatment, with each stage requiring different kinds of support. By understanding the signs and signals that mark the end of menopause, you can know what to look for when it comes to continuing to monitor your menopausal journey. 

Understanding menopause’s stages

Menopause is, for many women, a long-term experience that typically consists of three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. Perimenopause is a transitional phase that sees hormone levels beginning to fluctuate, marking a transition towards menopause. Menopause is officially reached when it’s been 12 months in a row without a period (and with no other causes for a lack of period). The years following menopause are known as postmenopause, with women requiring different forms of care and consideration for varying health factors throughout this final stage.

When menopause is simply grouped into one stage through a lack of awareness, this can result in inconsistent or ineffective care strategies for the changes each stage will bring. Prioritising your physical, mental and emotional needs throughout each of menopause’s three stages is important in minimising the disruptive impact it has on your overall well-being.

Not sure how to prioritise those needs? Find support for every stage of your menopausal journey at the Australian Menopause Centre.

What are the signs that point to the end of menopause?

While each woman’s experience with menopause will be her own, there are a number of common signs that can indicate the transition from menopause to postmenopause. These include:

• The consistent lack of periods: the most obvious sign that menopause has officially been reached, and postmenopause is now following? A lack of periods for 12 consecutive months.
• Less intense or frequent menopause symptoms: with hot flushes and night sweats providing very clear symptoms of menopause, a reduction (or a complete halt of them, which many women welcome!) in these symptoms can point to the onset of postmenopause. This isn’t the case for all women, however, with some continuing to experience them years after menopause has officially been reached.
• Stabilising moods: just like with hot flushes and night sweats, mood fluctuations are a common menopausal symptom. These are likely to either stabilise or reduce in frequency during the postmenopause season. 

With other physiological signals also pointing to the end of menopause (such as FSH levels, vaginal pH levels, and more), healthcare providers can also carry out more in-depth tests to confirm menopause’s progress into postmenopause.

What are the health considerations of postmenopause?

Menopause brings with it its own set of health considerations, but these change yet again when postmenopause begins. For women who’ve reached this new season, it’s important to be aware of fluctuating health needs that require careful planning and ongoing attention.

Postmenopausal women are, unfortunately, at a heightened risk for osteoporosis. By scheduling regular screenings and making sure they’re eating plenty of calcium and Vitamin D, this risk can be reduced through ongoing lifestyle management.

Cardiovascular health also comes to the forefront for menopausal women as protective oestrogen levels decline. In this case, regular check-ups and a balanced diet are also a crucial support, as well as continuing to build in regular physical activity.

Postmenopausal women may also experience a difference in their sexual health, with many identifying changes to their libido and an increase in vagina dryness. In this instance, hormone therapy and lubricants can be necessary supports, helping to promote ongoing sexual wellness and activity long after menopause is complete.

Just like in menopause, postmenopause can have an impact on every element of a woman’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. By being as prepared as possible, you can navigate this new transition with clarity and foresight, planning for what’s to come.

Preparing for the changes postmenopause will bring

Thankfully, many of the lifestyle changes that can provide necessary support throughout menopause can continue to serve women well in their postmenopausal years. 

By prioritising a healthy, balanced diet, regular exercise, and support for mental wellbeing, postmenopause can be a phase where women thrive by ensuring they’re taking great care of themselves. Whether you’ve adopted new lifestyle habits throughout menopause to help to reduce its symptoms, or you’re looking to build more intentionality into your lifestyle, small adjustments throughout postmenopause can have a significant impact on your overall health and well-being. 

Don’t fall for the myths surrounding postmenopause

Unfortunately, many common myths surrounding postmenopause can make this life season more complicated for women. By making sure you’re aware of these myths, you can continue to strategically make use of resources and treatment options throughout the further changes postmenopause will bring.

One of the most common myths surrounding postmenopause is that menopausal symptoms will vanish completely. For some women, symptoms can stop or can be heavily reduced, but for others, they may experience ongoing symptoms for years to come. 

Another is that postmenopausal women won’t ever experience vaginal bleeding. While not common, this can occur for postmenopausal women, and should be brought to their healthcare provider’s attention to make sure any required tests are carried out in regards to the bleeding’s source.

With every woman experiencing her own journey through menopause and into postmenopause, learning how to relate to your changing body is crucial in finding a sustainable way through these fluctuating changes. If you experience any other symptoms or changes in your general health, prioritising these with a healthcare professional is one simple way you can continue to keep your long-term health at the forefront. 

Conclusion

Menopause is a lengthy and complex process, but its end doesn’t mark the end of prioritising your individual healthcare needs. By understanding what your body may experience during postmenopause, you can continue to seek out necessary support and resources for the unknown changes ahead. Find support for every stage of your perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause journey at the Australian Menopause Centre.