The time when your periods are over and done with for good is called your post menopause. Problems can happen during this time that you should be aware of. Please don't use this article as a substitute for a qualified doctor's advice. Only use this as a general information guide. Not every woman will go through post menopause problems.
Bleeding Is A Red Alert
For most women, their menopause is considered "done" when they haven't had a period for at least six months. Some doctors prefer to wait until a year has gone by before declaring a woman through menopause. However, any vaginal bleeding after such a long time of no regular menstrual activity can be a sign of cancer. It's not ALWAYS a sign of cancer, but it can be. It is safest to get it checked. The earlier cancer is detected, the better your chances of beating it are.
Osteoporosis
Your body's calcium levels will naturally decline after your menopause. As a result, osteoporosis (nicknamed "brittle bone disease") is one of the most common post menopause problems you will face. There are bone density tests you can take to help your doctor plan your defense against osteoporosis. Most likely, you will have to take calcium supplements and sometimes prescription medications.
Regular exercise will also help keep your bones strong. You might not be able to exercise as intensely as you did when you were a kid, but you don't need to in order to get the benefits from post menopause problems. You might want to talk to your doctor about what exercises would best help you. Swimming, water aerobics, yoga and Pilates are all considered some of the best exercise programs for post menopausal women - and pre-menopausal women, for that matter!
Sadness And Depression
If you have never been diagnosed with depression before, you might find that depression is now one of your post menopause problems. If you already have depression, then your post menopause time might intensify the symptoms. It is normal to feel depressed during and after your menopause. It does not mean you are going crazy.
Hormones have shown to have a huge effect on our brain chemistry, which is often the dictator of our moods. Our brain receptors just don't work as well due to the drop in estrogen during and after menopause. (That's the current theory, anyway). Some women also feel very sad that they are aging and that they can no longer have children. These are normal feelings. They can be treated with help from your doctor.
