Here’s all that you need to know about postmenopausal bleeding

If you have hit menopause but are still spotting or bleeding from time to time, here’s what your body is trying to tell you.
postmenopausal
It's not normal to bleed postmenopause. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Dr Pratima Thamke Published: 8 Dec 2020, 09:00 am IST
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Have you hit menopause? Have you bled several times post-menopause? Then, a number of conditions may be responsible for this, some might even rob your peace.  You may be at a risk of suffering from ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, thinning of vaginal tissue or infection, or even thinning of the vaginal tissue. Read on to know more about why you MUST worry, if you are bleeding after menopause.

Menopause can be termed as a time period in a woman’s life, wherein her periods stop and her ovaries tend to lose their reproductive function.  This is the time when the menstruation period of the woman will end. You may have hit menopause, if you haven’t got your periods for over a year. A woman belonging to the age group of 45-55 may have menopause. Though your periods may have ended, some women may still spot bleeding even after menopause. There are various reasons behind this kind of notorious bleeding, and this can also indicate that you have an underlying health problem.  After spotting blood, get yourself evaluated.

Here we list out why you may spot bleeding after menopause

1. Ovarian cancer: It tends to begin in one’s ovaries, and can give a tough time to a woman. It tends to go undetected and spreads to the other parts of the body like the stomach and pelvis. This also can be the reason behind abnormal spotting. Not only this, even endometrial cancer can lead to bleeding.

2. Thinning of one’s endometrial lining: Your endometrial lining becomes thinner, once your body stops producing estrogen. Thus, that thin lining may lead to bleeding.

3. Pelvic trauma: Other possible reasons for this unusual bleeding can be trauma to the pelvic region, urinary tract bleeding, and even the infection of the lining of the uterus that is also known as endometriosis.

4. Endometrial cancer: It is the cancer of the lining of the womb. It is seen much more after menopause, due to the unopposed effect of estrogen on endometrium.

endometriosis
Don’t take the symptoms of endometrial cancer lightly. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Also, read: Everything you need to know about perimenopause and hitting it in your 30s

5. Infection of the endometrium: After menopause, the cervix  may get tightly closed and the secretions get collected in the uterine cavity, which can cause infections of the endometrium, leading to bleeding.

Treatment: Treatment may vary from person to person and will be based on the underlying cause. Do not take any medications without the knowledge of your doctor. Likewise, do not panic and ignore this unusual bleeding and immediately report it to your doctor.

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About the Author

Dr Pratima Thamke is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Motherhood Hospital, Kharghar ...Read More

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