Wies: “Many women feel better after menopause than before”

I just turned 60 and I feel like the hormonal roller coaster I’ve been on has finally slowed down. I still get the occasional hot flash and have a few minor discomforts, but that's about it. In general, I am doing much better. The question is, what will happen to my hormones now that menopause has passed?

When is menopause officially over?

The other day, I heard someone say: ‘Oh, she’s on the other side of menopause’. I knew what they meant, but can you ever get to the other side? How do you know when you are past menopause?

A gynaecologist explained it to me like this: menopause is considered over when your body has adapted to new hormone levels and the symptoms caused by hormonal fluctuations have improved.

Postmenopause starts when you've stopped menstruating for 12 consecutive months. It is the period from the end of menopause until death. The majority of women – 90 percent –hardly have any symptoms once they are postmenopausal, apart from the symptoms and ailments that come with old age.

However, a small group of women – about 10 percent – will experience symptoms like hot flashes in postmenopause despite having a healthy lifestyle. So, based on this information I can conclude that for me, menopause is officially over. But technically, I'm in postmenopause. Forever.

New hormonal balance

The good news is that you will find some peace once your hormones have stopped raging. The bad news is that after menopause oestrogen levels remain consistently low. Therefore, you have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis and heart and vascular disease after menopause than before. This means you will need to watch your diet more carefully.

Does this mean oestrogen production stops completely after menopause? No, it's taken over by other organs, such as the adrenal glands and fat tissue, albeit in smaller amounts. And that’s a good thing, because oestrogen helps maintain bone density and regulate metabolism and mood.

Most women do feel better once they have passed menopause because their hormones are now at a low but stable level. In fact, many women coming out of menopause feel better than they did going into it. According to a survey commissioned for the British magazine Health Plus, eight out of 10 women say they now have an overwhelming "sense of freedom" and six out of 10 women say they feel "better than ever before". Cheers to that!

Can I continue HRT after menopause?

I’m still on hormone replacement therapy (estradiol and progesterone) and it’s working well for me. So naturally, I am somewhat hesitant to come off HRT. Does hormone therapy have any risks after the age of 60?

Research shows that short-term use of HRT (less than five years) and starting HRT within 10 years of menopause (i.e., the last menstrual period) is not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence seems to suggest that women over the age of 60 who have started HRT within 10 years of menopause can continue to use it. More research is needed, but the findings are encouraging.

I have decided to stop using HRT when I'm 61. For now I can say that I belong to the 60 percent who say they feel better than ever!

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Can you benefit from hormone therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can provide relief from severe symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, sleep problems, vaginal dryness and mental health issues. HRT has improved the quality of life of many women, including Wies.

More about HRT