Postmenopausal Bleeding

The absence of menstruation for a minimum of one year is known as menopause. Women over 45 who have not experienced a period for over a year are more likely to be diagnosed with menopause. If there is bleeding from your vagina after this time, it's important to have a doctor examine it.

Causes of Postmenopausal Bleeding

Postmenopausal bleeding may be caused by a number of factors. The most typical reasons are:

Cervical or womb polyps are typically non-cancerous growths that cause inflammation and weakening of the vaginal lining (atrophic vaginitis) or womb lining (endometrial atrophy) due to decreased estrogen levels.

Endometrial hyperplasia, or thicker lining of the womb, can result from hormone replacement treatment (HRT), excessive estrogen levels, or obesity and can cause womb cancer.

Less frequently, ovarian and womb cancers are the cause of postmenopausal bleeding.

Diagnosis of Postmenopausal bleeding

The doctor will examine you and go over your medical history to determine the source of your bleeding, and you could require one or more of the following tests:

• A vaginal ultrasound scan is a little instrument that is inserted into your vagina to check for any issues.

• Inspection of your vagina and pelvis Your vagina may be held open by inserting a speculum, a plastic instrument, to reveal the cervix and the inside of the vagina.

• Under local or general anesthesia, a thin, telescope-like camera is passed into your vagina, through the cervix, and into your womb to perform a hysteroscopy, which looks for any issues, and to take a biopsy, which is a sample of tissue for testing.

• The expert will press on your abdomen and within your vagina to look for any lumps, sore spots, or other irregularities.

Treatment of Postmenopausal bleeding

The cause of postmenopausal bleeding determines the course of treatment. Reasons for postmenopausal bleeding and how to treat them

Polyps in the cervical region

A medical professional may be required to remove the polyps.

Endometrial or vaginal atrophy

You can be offered pessaries or estrogen cream even if you do not require therapy.

Endometrial hyperplasia

You can be prescribed hormone medication (tablets or an intrauterine system, IUS), no therapy, or a total hysterectomy (surgical to remove your uterus, cervix, and ovaries), depending on the kind of hyperplasia.

HRT side effects

Modifying or discontinuing HRT therapy

Cancer of the womb

Usually, a complete hysterectomy is advised, followed by hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a mix of these.

Cancer of the ovaries

Surgery to remove your womb and maybe your ovaries