Postmenopausal bleeding is bleeding that occurs after menopause. Menopause is a stage in a woman’s life (around age 51) when reproductive hormones drop and her monthly menstrual periods stop. Vaginal bleeding that occurs more than a year after a woman’s last period isn’t normal. The bleeding can be light (spotting) or heavy.
Postmenopausal bleeding is usually due to benign (noncancerous) gynecological conditions such as endometrial polyps. But for about 10% of women, bleeding after menopause is a sign of uterine cancer (endometrial cancer). Uterine cancer is the most common type of reproductive cancer (more common than ovarian or cervical cancers.) Do not ignore postmenopausal bleeding. Make an appointment with Dr. Guerette or an IWI team member.
Anyone can have vaginal bleeding, especially during perimenopause. Perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, usually occurs between ages 40 and 50. It’s the phase when a woman’s hormone levels and periods start to change.
Postmenopausal bleeding occurs in about 10% of women over 55.
The most common causes of bleeding or spotting after menopause include:
Identifying the cause of the bleeding can include the following:
Treatment for postmenopausal bleeding depends on its cause. Medication and surgery are the most common treatments.
Medications include:
Antibiotics can treat most infections of the cervix or uterus.
Estrogen may help bleeding due to vaginal dryness. You can apply estrogen directly to your vagina as a cream, ring or insertable tablet. Systemic estrogen therapy may come as a pill or patch. When estrogen therapy is systemic, it means the hormone travels throughout the body.
Progestin is a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone. It can treat endometrial hyperplasia by triggering the uterus to shed its lining. You may receive progestin as a pill, shot, cream or intrauterine device (IUD).
Surgeries include:
Hysteroscopy is a procedure to examine your cervix and uterus with a camera. Your healthcare provider inserts a hysteroscope (thin, lighted tube) into your vagina to remove polyps or other abnormal growths that may be causing bleeding. This can be done in the office for diagnosis. To remove any growths, hysteroscopy is often done in the operating room under general anesthesia.
Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a procedure to sample the lining and contents of the uterus. Your healthcare provider may perform a D&C with a hysteroscopy. A D&C can treat some types of endometrial hyperplasia.
Hysterectomy is a surgery to remove your uterus and cervix. You may need a hysterectomy. Dr. Guerette specializes in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. In most cases Dr. Guerette can do a hysterectomy as an outpatient with a few less than 1 centimeter incisions.
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