Beyond the jokes about hot flashes, today’s women are serious about understanding menopause. And they’re realizing that this change of life not only affects hormones but also increases the risks of certain medical conditions afterward. Examples include:
Heart Disease
Your risk of cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death in women—increases because of the decrease in estrogen. Focusing on prevention is essential. It’s important to get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet and maintain a normal weight.
Osteoporosis
This condition causes bones to become brittle and weak, leading to an increased risk of fractures. During the first several years after menopause, you may lose bone density at a rapid rate, increasing your risk of osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are especially susceptible to fractures of their hips, wrists
Depending on your age, adults should get approximately 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day. Talk to your doctor about what amount is right for you.
Loss of Bladder Control
Also known as urinary incontinence, this takes place when the tissues of your vagina and urethra lose elasticity. You’re likely to experience frequent, sudden, strong urges to urinate, followed by the involuntary loss of urine—or even a loss of urine when coughing, laughing or lifting. Because of this, you may have urinary tract infections more often.
Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles with Kegel exercises and using a topical vaginal estrogen may help relieve symptoms of incontinence.
Sexual Function
Vaginal dryness from decreased moisture production and loss of elasticity can cause discomfort and slight bleeding during sex. The decreased sensation may even dampen your libido.
Water-based vaginal moisturizers and lubricants can help. If that’s not enough, you can try a local vaginal estrogen treatment, available as a vaginal cream, tablet or ring.
