postmenopause
Post-fertile life stage
Postmenopause is the stage of life beginning after menopause, when menstruation has ceased for at least twelve consecutive months.
A woman in postmenopause no longer ovulates and cannot become pregnant naturally.
The term often appears in medical contexts discussing bone density, hormone levels, and health risks: postmenopausal women have higher rates of osteoporosis.
Female reproductive hormone
- progesteroneOvarian steroid supporting gestation
- hormonesBloodstream signaling molecules
- ovariesEgg-producing organs
- endocrineInternally secreting gland system
estradiol · testosterone · luteinizing · hot flashes · night sweats · vaginal dryness · bone density · metabolism
Critical period of change
- croneWizened old woman
- elderSenior figure of authority
- empty nestHome without children anymore
- grandmotherMother of a parent
midlife · seasoned · seniority · matriarch · silver years
Absence of constraint
- liberationRelease from constraint
- self-discoveryLearning one's true character
- reinventionComplete self-transformation
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
renewal · unburdened · wisdom · confidence · self-acceptance · new chapter · second act · vitality
Treatment using body's messengers
- HRTSupplemental endocrine treatment
- osteoporosisDisease weakening skeletal structure
- cardiovascularOf heart and blood vessels
- mammogramBreast tissue X-ray
gynecologist · bone scan · thyroid function · cholesterol · blood pressure · hysterectomy · vitamin D
Regulating body mass intentionally
- sleep qualityHow restorative nighttime rest is
- exercise regimenSystematic plan for physical activity
- pelvic floorMuscles supporting abdominal organs
- lubricantsFriction-reducing substances
stress reduction · heart health · cognitive function · balanced diet · hydration · strength training · phytoestrogens · black cohosh
estrogen
Female reproductive hormone
- progesteroneOvarian steroid supporting gestation
- hormonesBloodstream signaling molecules
- ovariesEgg-producing organs
endocrine · estradiol · testosterone · luteinizing · hot flashes · night sweats · vaginal dryness · bone density · metabolism · cortisol
climacteric
Critical period of change
- croneWizened old woman
- elderSenior figure of authority
- empty nestHome without children anymore
grandmother · midlife · seasoned · seniority · matriarch · silver years
freedom
Absence of constraint
- liberationRelease from constraint
- self-discoveryLearning one's true character
- reinventionComplete self-transformation
autonomy · renewal · unburdened · wisdom · confidence · self-acceptance · new chapter · second act · vitality · purpose
hormone therapy
Treatment using body's messengers
- HRTSupplemental endocrine treatment
- osteoporosisDisease weakening skeletal structure
- cardiovascularOf heart and blood vessels
mammogram · gynecologist · bone scan · thyroid function · cholesterol · blood pressure · hysterectomy · vitamin D
weight management
Regulating body mass intentionally
- sleep qualityHow restorative nighttime rest is
- exercise regimenSystematic plan for physical activity
- pelvic floorMuscles supporting abdominal organs
lubricants · stress reduction · heart health · cognitive function · balanced diet · hydration · strength training · phytoestrogens · black cohosh · libido
- menopausehot flashes, night sweats, hot flushes, estrogen, irregular periods
- midlife wellnessmidlife crisis, empty nest, hot flashes, hormones, estrogen
postmenopausepremenopause
Stage before climacteric
premenopausal · puberty · menarche · adolescence · perimenopause