The Menopause journey has no clear beginning or ending point and has numerous diversions – menopause is certainly a trip. However, while focusing on menopause symptoms, we also need to take stock of the post menopause phase, what happens during that time and if there are any health issues that could possibly crop up. These help women stay ahead of any issues that might happen, and deal with them effectively.

Menopause signifies the end of fertility and cessation of a woman’s procreation life. The fertility cycle begins around the ages 10-13 years when a female’s body starts to produce these hormones known as female hormones or estrogen.

These trigger the process of menarche. However, by about 45-52 years or so, the original stock of oocytes gets exhausted. The female hormone production decreases and almost at the same time, the reverse process starts, which is menopause. There is an attempt by the body to coax the lasts of the oocytes to mature and the hormone levels fluctuate widely. Initially only a delay in the onset of period is noticed. Later the entire cycle and the flow characteristics change. The flow varies from scanty to flood. Periods come and go as they like. One starts getting hot flashes on her torso spreading upwards or downwards depending on the site.

Women also start getting sudden reddening of skin as if they are blushing, which is not exactly what you’d call a comfortable condition. Putting on weight, decrease in sexual interest, swelling and pain in breasts, lack of secretions in vagina and pain during coitus are some of the usual symptoms. Anxiety and depression are noticed.

When one enters the post menopause stage, all these symptoms respond to regular physical exercise and a balanced diet and disappear in a year or two. In case of any persistence in the severity of the pain, then medications are available. An important thing is in the highly irregular and unpredictable regime of periods it is impossible to ascertain the exact date of ovulation and planned sex is not a choice. A pregnancy at this stage risks begetting deformed and/or mentally retarded child as healthy ova at this stage are unlikely.

There are some health issues that could crop up in the post menopause stage. Some more severe effects are an increased tendency for heart diseases, Osteoporosis and sleep disturbances are noticed in post-menopause. However, the increase in atherosclerosis is contested. It is established that Estrogen bestows a degree of protection to the heart tissue and bone. Issue of heart is amenable to the usual techniques of risk management. Osteoporosis responds well to a religiously followed exercise regime. Treatments are available for severe cases. MHT is discounted because of its serious side effects and is resorted to in extreme cases only. Vaginal lubricants are available in the market and healthy sex life does a lot to good health and need not give up.