Post-Menopausal Cramping: When to Worry and How to Treat It
Menopause is a fact that affects every woman when she gets to the latter part of her life. According to the World Health Organization, most women go through menopause when they’re 45 to 55 years old. ‘One advantage of menopause is the cessation of periods and their unpleasant side effects.
As a result, it can be quite alarming for some women when they start to experience post-menopausal cramping. While pelvic cramps are commonly associated with women who are on their periods, it’s not something you frequently think happens to post-menopausal women. However, you may be experiencing an underlying health condition if you’re dealing with this.
This blog will cover post-menopausal cramping causes, diagnosis, and treatments. We’ll also go over some tips for post-menopausal care.
What Is Menopause?
Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when they stop getting their period. A woman reaches the menopause phase when their periods have stopped for 12 consecutive months. Other menopause symptoms you may experience include:
- Irritability and other mood swings
- Difficulty sleeping
- Hot flashes
- Headaches
- Incontinence
- Disinterest in sex
- Vaginal dryness
The months before a woman transitions into menopause are referred to as perimenopause. Women in this phase may encounter less frequent and lighter periods.
It’s normal to experience period-like cramping before the onset of your period. Additionally, any other menstrual cycle symptoms you experience may become more intense during the perimenopausal period. These symptoms may last through menopause and after.
What Causes Post-Menopausal Cramping?
Several health conditions may cause post-menopausal cramping. A person who’s having pelvic cramps and who has also been through menopause may experience some of these other symptoms:
- Bloating or abdominal swelling
- Heavy or light vaginal bleeding
- Pain or swelling in the legs
- Constipation
- Pain during bowel movements or while urinating
- Unexpected weight gain or loss
- Extreme fatigue or tiredness
You should make an appointment at a gynecology office if you’re experiencing bleeding after you’ve been through menopause. Pelvic cramping after menopause is not always a major concern but could indicate a serious health issue that needs attention.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynecological issue that affects the lining of the uterus. For women with this condition, the lining begins to grow in other areas of the body, such as the:
- Bowels
- Fallopian tubes
- Ovaries
While endometriosis is more common in younger women, it can affect post-menopausal women. Common side effects of this condition include:
- Lower back pain
- Cramping and pelvic pain
- Pain during bowel movements or after urinating
- Pain after or during sex
For some women who are undergoing hormone therapy for their menopause symptoms, the medication they’re taking may make their endometriosis symptoms worse.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids refer to small growths that appear in the wall of the uterus. Most of the time these growths are benign or not cancerous.
Uterine fibroids tend to develop before a woman goes through menopause. Even with that in mind, it’s still possible for post-menopausal women to develop uterine fibroids.
A woman’s uterine fibroids tend to shrink or stop growing after she goes through menopause. Unfortunately, she could still experience symptoms of the fibroids after her period stops, including:
- Cramps
- Pelvic pressure
Chronic Constipation
Another common cause of pelvic pressure and pain is chronic constipation. Chronic constipation is when a person has less than three bowel movements per week for at least three months. Some of the other uncomfortable symptoms they may experience include:
- Difficulty passing stool
- Hard stool
- Incomplete evacuation
- Feeling like the rectum is blocked
- Lower abdominal cramps
- Lumpy, dry, or hard stool
Many things can cause this health problem. Causes of chronic constipation are:
- Certain medications
- Low fiber diet
- Some medical conditions
- Lack of exercise
You should meet with your doctor if you’re dealing with severe constipation.
Uterine and Ovarian Cancers
Uterine and ovarian cancers can cause pelvic or abdominal cramping. Older women are more at risk of developing these types of cancers than younger ones. Other symptoms of these cancers may include:
- Abdominal bloating
- Unexpected weight loss
- Extreme tiredness
- Vaginal bleeding
Diagnosis of Post-Menopausal Cramping
You should see your doctor right away if you’re dealing with pelvic cramping and any symptom that concerns you and makes you feel uncomfortable. Your doctor will ask you several questions on these topics during your initial appointment:
- Symptoms
- Medical history
They’ll also perform a physical examination. You might receive a referral to a specialist so they can conduct further testing. Some of the tests you may encounter include:
- Hysteroscopy
- Transvaginal ultrasound scan
- Sonohysterography
- Endometrial biopsy
- Dilation and curettage
These tests are designed to collect samples of affected tissue if that’s what your doctor believes is causing your symptoms. Certain scans can give them a better look inside your body to see what’s resulting in your pelvic cramping.
Treatment for Post-Menopausal Cramping
The treatment route you take depends on the cause of your post-menopausal cramping. Common treatment options may include:
- Dilation and curettage surgery
- Progestin therapy
- Hysterectomy
- Hormone therapy
- Radiation treatment
- Chemotherapy
Some of these treatments may be recommended if cancer is the cause of your pelvic cramps. Your doctor may recommend some or all of these treatments. The factors that can affect their cancer treatment plan include:
- The stage of the cancer
- Whether the cancer has spread
- The type of cancer
Home Remedies
As we mentioned earlier, some women experience carry-over menstrual symptoms after they’ve gone through menopause. There may not be an underlying health condition causing their cramping. If you fall into this category, some of these home remedies may help alleviate your symptoms:
- Heating pad
- Pain relievers
- Maintaining normal bowel movements
- Gentle exercise
Schedule an Appointment to Discuss Your Gynecological Issues
You shouldn’t immediately be alarmed if you’re experiencing post-menopausal cramping. However, if you’re noticing other symptoms, or if the cramping is becoming worse, you should schedule an appointment at a women’s health clinic. You’ll want to catch any underlying medical conditions before they become more serious.
Women’s Health of Augusta has been providing comprehensive gynecological care for over 50 years. We offer numerous healthcare services, such as menopause care, mammography, and pregnancy care. Contact our office to schedule a consultation.