Your periods stopped months, or years, ago, and the intense symptoms have likely eased. You’re not in crisis mode anymore, but you might be wondering if your current care still fits, or if it’s time for a team that actually understands what your body needs now. We’ve supported women across metro Atlanta through this exact stage since 1984.
Confirming Where You Are
- Postmenopause: Begins once you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period, the point that marks menopause itself, and it lasts for the rest of your life.
- Still having periods? Even if they’re irregular, you’re likely in perimenopause.
- Closer to that 12-month mark? If you’re in the midst of active menopausal symptoms and treatment decisions, our Menopause page covers that stage in depth.
What Your Care Should Actually Look Like Now
This is the question we think matters most at this stage: not “what symptoms do I have,” but “is my care team actually paying attention to what matters now.” A postmenopause well-woman visit with us includes:
- Cancer Screening: Pap smears or HPV testing, when recommended based on your age and history, along with breast exams.
- Cardiovascular Risk Assessment: Blood pressure, cholesterol, and a real conversation about what your numbers mean–not just a quick glance.
- Bone Health Discussion: A discussion about osteoporosis prevention, calcium and vitamin D, and whether you’re due for a bone density scan.
- Sexual Health: Brought up by us, not left for you to raise. Keep reading to learn more about sexual health after menopause.
Postmenopause care isn’t a shorter version of your old appointments, it’s a different stage of life with a different focus.
What Actually Matters Now: Prevention
At this stage, prevention becomes just as important as symptom management. Two areas deserve particular attention–not because something is wrong, but because this is when proactive care can have the greatest long-term impact.
- Bone Health: Declining estrogen accelerates bone loss, and the first several years after menopause are when that loss happens fastest, raising the risk of osteoporosis and fractures later. The National Institute on Aging recommends weight-bearing exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D, and bone density screening as part of routine postmenopause care.
- Cardiovascular Health: Before menopause, estrogen offers some natural protection against heart disease. After menopause, that protection declines, making regular monitoring and heart-healthy habits more important than ever.
Unlike hot flashes or other menopause symptoms, bone loss and cardiovascular disease often develop silently. That’s why they deserve more than a quick mention during your annual visit—they should be a routine part of your ongoing care.
If Symptoms Are Still Lingering
For many women, the most intense menopausal symptoms improve over time. But if you’re still dealing with hot flashes, sleep disruption, vaginal dryness, or other symptoms, you don’t have to simply live with them. Effective treatment options are still available!
- Continued or adjusted hormone therapy: When appropriate based on your health history and current symptoms
- Non-hormonal medications: Effective options for managing hot flashes, sleep disruption, and other menopausal symptoms.
- Targeted treatment for vaginal dryness: Vaginal estrogen and other local therapies often provide excellent relief without the need for systemic hormone therapy. Learn more in our menopause and vaginal health article.
Your physician will walk through what’s changed since your last visit and adjust your plan. This isn’t static, it evolves with you.
Sexuality and Vitality Don’t End Here
Let’s say it directly: vaginal dryness, lower desire, or discomfort during sex are common, treatable, and worth bringing up, even if your last doctor never asked. Solutions exist, from moisturizers to targeted treatment, and this should be a normal part of your visit, not an awkward afterthought you have to initiate.
Care From Physicians Who Specialize in This
Drs. Mironda Williams, Deanna Guthrie, and Karen Greene are members of The Menopause Society, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to women’s health at midlife and beyond. Our team is all women too, so your ongoing care is informed by physicians who stay current on the latest research and guidelines for long-term health after menopause.
Our nurse practitioners, Mary Corbitt and Brittany Bulger, work alongside our physicians to provide ongoing well-woman care, so you have more than one path to the support you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need annual gynecology visits if nothing feels wrong?
Yes. Postmenopause visits shift focus toward cancer screening, cardiovascular assessment, and bone health prevention rather than symptom management. Feeling fine doesn’t mean there’s nothing to check.
How do I know if my current doctor's postmenopause care is actually thorough?
A thorough visit should include cardiovascular risk discussion, a bone health conversation, and a sexual health check-in initiated by your provider. If your annual visit is in and out without touching these, it’s worth asking why, or getting a second opinion.
How often should I get bone density screening?
Recommended at age 65 for all women, or sooner, as early as 50 to 60, if you have risk factors. Ask your doctor about your personal risk and screening schedule.
Can I stop hormone therapy now that I'm postmenopausal?
If you were using hormone therapy, your doctor will discuss whether to continue, reduce, or stop, based on how you’re feeling, any lingering symptoms, and your long-term goals. There’s no universal timeline.
Is vaginal dryness just something I have to accept now?
No. It’s common, but very treatable. Water-based lubricants help acutely; vaginal moisturizers used a few times weekly help longer-term. Prescription options exist if over-the-counter choices aren’t enough, and it’s a normal thing to bring up at your visit.
