Does Postmenopause Have Different Symptoms Than Menopause?

A woman reaches menopause when she has not experienced a period for the previous 12 months. During perimenopause, hormones fluctuate frequently. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels are declining, leading to a number of physical and emotional changes.

Many think that after perimenopause, the symptoms will subside and life will settle down to a new normal. To some extent, this is true, but you still have to deal with some postmenopause symptoms.

Postmenopause Symptoms

The following is a list of the common postmenopause symptoms:

• Urethritis and cystitis. Commonly known as urethra or bladder infection, it causes a strong need to use the bathroom.

• Stress incontinence. Simply described is leaking urine in small or large amounts, and can be induced by sneezing, laughing, or coughing.

• High blood pressure. Also known as hypertension. The blood vessels lose their tonicity, hindering blood flow.

• Fractures, bone pain, foot and leg cramps. In part, this comes in under the heading osteoporosis, because of the progressive effects of reduced bone density.

Menopause Symptoms

The following is a list of the most common menopausal symptoms:

• Hot flashes. A sudden sensation of heat that spreads all over the body, especially face and neck.

• Night sweats. These are hot flashes that occur at night, leaving a woman drenched in sweat.

• Vaginal dryness. An unpleasant and painful symptom that causes itching, rashes, and painful sex.

• Mood swings. Unexpected changes in mood that can be sudden and intense.

• Irregular periods. A woman may experience shorter periods than before due to hormonal fluctuations during menopause.

As you can see each phase of menopause has different signs and symptoms. If you want to learn more about how to control these symptoms, click on the following link to find out about the most common postmenopause treatments.