Long Term Health Risks
A woman’s risk for health conditions such as heart disease, osteoporosis and a range of genitourinary issues increase with the onset of menopause.
To support closing the menopause knowledge gap, the information provided points to leading evidence-based sources of information, such as The North American Menopause Society. Information provided is for general informational purposes only. It is not professional medical advice and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, treatment or care. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider to discuss questions related to your health.
Osteoporosis can be a serious health threat for postmenopausal women.[i] That’s because estrogen improves bone density and decreases fracture risk.
- Women begin losing bone density at an annual rate of two percent beginning one to three years before menopause and lasting five to 10 years in postmenopause. This results in an average loss of bone mass density of 10% in the spine and hip.[ii]
- 1 in 3 women in Canada will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime. Fractures from osteoporosis are more common than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined.[iii]
- View the 2021 North American Menopause Society position statement on Management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
- Read Bone Health: Exercise Is a Key Component , from the North American Menopause Society
- Read Osteoporosis: Bone Health Following the Menopause from the Women’s Health Concern, the patient arm of the British Menopause Society
- Learn more about Osteoporosis from Osteoporosis Canada
[i] Management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: the 2021 position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society Vol. 28, No. 9, pp. 973-997 DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001831.
[ii] Management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: the 2021 position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society Vol. 28, No. 9, pp. 973-997 DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001831.
[iii] Osteoporosis Canada. The Prevalence of Osteoporosis. https://osteoporosis.ca/what-is-osteoporosis/
After menopause, a woman’s risk of heart disease increases steadily due to a lack of estrogen. While 1 in 8 women are affected by breast cancer, 1 in 3 women will develop heart disease.
- Visit the North American Menopause Society’s page on Keeping Your Heart Healthy at Menopause
- Learn about Heart and Vascular Health from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
- Read MENOPAUSE Times Have Changed. Let’s Talk.SIGMA Canadian Menopause Society to learn evidence that indicates women who start hormone therapy within 10 years of menopause have a lower risk of heart disease.
“Although most women experience some changes in sexual function as they age, menopause and aging certainly do not signal the end of a woman’s sex life.” Quote from the North American Menopause Society’s online resource designed to help women understand what menopause might mean for their sex lives.
- Read the North American Menopause Society’s latest position statement on Genitourinary syndrome of menopause
- Read the North American Menopause Society’s information sheet on Vaginal Dryness
- Learn about Sexual Health from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
- Read the International Menopause Society’s Information Sheet on Sexual Wellbeing After Menopause
- Read the patient handout on GSM from the Gynaecology Quality Improvement Collaboration at the University of Toronto
- Learn about Uterine and Vaginal Prolapse from the Women’s Health Concern, the patient arm of the British Menopause Society
- Learn about Bladder Health and Menopause from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
- Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Issues , Video from the North American Menopause Society, Dr. Stephanie Faubion, 2021 (9 minutes)
[i] Lim J, Uzelac A, Christakis M, Shirref L. The Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. Gynaecology Quality Improvement Collaboration: v12.22.2021.
[ii]The 2020 genitourinary syndrome of menopause position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society Vol. 27, No. 9, pp. 976-992 DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001609.