Menopause in women: Postmenopause refers to postmenopause and refers to the permanent cessation of menstruation due to loss of ovarian and follicular activity. It usually begins between the ages of 45 and 55, but women can develop it before or after this age range.
Menopause begins when a woman has gone 12 months without her menstrual cycle and is no longer able to conceive naturally. Once symptoms like hot flashes and irritation start and are difficult to handle in some cases, this is when one can seek treatment. When your periods start becoming irregular around this age (around 45-50 years), it is considered perimenopause. This is the time after menopause when menstruation stops and the period after menopause is considered postmenopausal.
mammogram
Almost like an X-ray, this breast cancer screening is recommended every two years. Your doctor may ask you to repeat these tests in case of any abnormal reports or high risk factors like positive family history. This test is important because it gives you the chance to catch a breast tumor early.
dexa scan
Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry or DXA bone density scan uses low-dose X-rays to see how dense (or strong) your bones are. It is often used to diagnose or assess your risk of osteoporosis, a health condition that weakens bones and makes them more likely to break. This is a highly beneficial test done in post-menopausal women who are prone to osteoporosis due to hormonal imbalance.
Pap smear / liquid-based cytology (LBC)
Pap smear test is the screening procedure for cervical cancer. This is a recommended test for the early detection of cervical cancer. Under the procedure, cells are gently scraped from your cervix and later examined under a microscope for abnormal cells or infection. Pap tests should be repeated every three years for women ages 21 to 65. This should be combined with HPV testing.
Regular health check up tests which may include
complete blood count (CBC)
The CBC is a blood test that is used to evaluate your overall health and can help detect a wide range of disorders, including infection, anemia, and even blood cancer. Several components of your blood are measured through a complete blood test, including hemoglobin, platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells.
lipid profile
A lipid profile test is important because it helps check your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and serves as a tool to determine your risk of heart disease or stroke. This test is very important because high cholesterol can result in heart attack, coronary artery disease, and stroke. So, a lipid profile helps in checking the risk of such diseases.
urine analysis
Urinalysis, often referred to as a urine test, is a non-invasive procedure to examine the composition of urine to rule out diseases such as kidney disease, infection, or diabetes. As part of the test, the urine is checked for physical appearance and chemical composition and then examined under a microscope.
kidney function test
This test estimates how well your kidneys are working. Under this test, some of the parameters assessed are serum creatinine test, estimated GFR, and blood urea nitrogen. Kidney function deteriorates as we age and menopause begins. It is also important to monitor vitamin D levels, as well as blood levels of calcium and phosphorus in postmenopausal women, due to the risk of osteoporosis.
thyroid function tests
Menopausal symptoms can be exacerbated and made worse by thyroid hormone abnormalities, especially hypothyroidism. In the years following menopause, bone loss is common. Thyroid function tests check the function of your thyroid gland. They are mainly used to detect an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) and an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
Blood sugar test – screening for diabetes
This is another important test done to monitor the blood sugar level. This test can help diagnose diabetes and monitor the effectiveness of your diabetes medication. It is a type of blood test and generally there are three types. Fasting blood sugar requires an 8-hour fast before the blood sample is taken.
Screening test can effectively help in assessing the health of postmenopausal women and taking early preventive measures in case of any risk factors. These tests can detect a health condition before symptoms start to show. This can help in taking preventive measures early. Screening is important because many diseases are asymptomatic, and by the time it is diagnosed it may be too late.