When you go through menopause, the expectation is that you stop bleeding each month, and, for the most part, that’s true. It’s why experiencing post-menopausal bleeding is always something to keep an eye on and to bring up when you visit Dr.Wolowick or Dr. Mitchell at MAIA. We can get to the root of the issue and provide the right treatment for you.
What is Post-Menopausal Bleeding?
Postmenopausal bleeding is vaginal bleeding that occurs a year or more after your last menstrual period. It can be a symptom of vaginal dryness, polyps, or other changes in your reproductive system. Post-menopausal bleeding can be a sign of uterine cancer, but it is rare.
Post-menopausal bleeding can include light bleeding, pink or brown discharge, and heavy bleeding.
What Causes Post-Menopausal Bleeding?
Some of the most common causes of bleeding or spotting after menopause include:
- Vaginal atrophy: When the lining of the vagina becomes thin and dry and bleeds more easily
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): changing or stopping HRT can lead to bleeding
- Uterine cancer
- Endometrial hyperplasia: When the lining of your uterus gets too thick and may contain abnormal cells
- Uterine polyps: benign growths in your uterus
- Cervical cancer
- Cervicitis
- Bleeding from nearby organs like the bladder or rectum
- Injury or trauma to your vagina
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Post-Menopausal Bleeding Risk Factors
While any woman can experience post-menopausal bleeding, there are some risk factors that make it more common for some than others, including
- Being obese
- Smoking cigarettes
- Having diabetes or thyroid disease
- Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- Reaching menopause after 51
Post-Menopausal Treatment Options
The right treatment option for you depends on the cause of the post-menopausal bleeding. To start, we’ll perform a pelvic exam and possibly a Pap smear or transvaginal ultrasound to take a look at where the bleeding is coming from. A biopsy may also be done to look at the cells from the uterine lining.
Some of the treatment options we offer at MAIA include:
- Antibiotics: These medications can treat most infections
- Estrogen: Estrogen therapy can help with bleeding due to vaginal atrophy. It can be applied directly to the vagina as a cream, ring, or tablet.
- Progestin: Progestin treats endometrial hyperplasia by telling your uterus to shed its lining. It comes as a pill, injection, cream, or IUD.
- Dilation and curettage (D&C): This procedure removes a sample of the lining and contents of your uterus to test for polyps, cancer, or endometrial hyperplasia
- Hysterectomy: This is a surgery to remove your uterus and cervix. It is a possible treatment option for uterine cancer.
- Hysteroscopy: This procedure can remove polyps and remove the thickened parts of the uterine lining.
- Radiation and chemotherapy: If you have uterine cancer, you may need radiation or chemotherapy to treat it and prevent it from spreading to other areas of the body.
Schedule A Consultation
Don’t ignore post-menopausal bleeding. It could be a sign of a more serious issue, and even if it’s not, we can find the root of the issue and treat it. Schedule a consultation by calling our Downers Grove, IL office at 630-320-6703 or filling out our online contact form. Dr. Wolowick, Dr Mitchell, and our whole team happily serve the Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, and Downers Grove areas.
