Is It Normal to Have Post-Menopausal Bleeding?

 

Affecting around 10% of women aged between 40–55 Post-Menopausal bleeding is a common complaint. In medical terms, Post-Menopausal bleeding is the vaginal bleeding that occurs after menopause (a year or more after your last menstrual period). It occurs due to gynaecological conditions and indicates the formation of major health conditions like uterine cancer, changes in hormones, problems related to the uterus, etc. As said by Dr. Elsa, a Trained Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in Dubai vaginal bleeding can happen to anyone and can occur especially during perimenopause, the time period when hormone levels and periods start to change.

Cause of Post-Menopausal Bleeding

There are several causes linked to post-menopausal bleeding and that includes:

1. Vaginal atrophy: Dryness and thinning of the uterus lining.
2. Hormone replacement therapy: Supplement of estrogen and progesterone that helps decrease menopausal symptoms.
3. Uterine cancer: Cancer in the lining of the uterus.
4. Uterine polyps: Extra growth in the uterus.
5. Cervical cancer: Cancer in the cervix.
6. Endometritis: Infection in the cervix or uterus.
7. Bleeding from other areas: Bleeding from the bladder, rectum, and other parts near the vagina.
8. Uterine fibroids: Noncancerous growth of the uterus.
9. Different medications and therapy: Medicines and treatments for different medical conditions.
10. Endometrial hyperplasia: Overgrowth of cells that make up the lining of the uterus.

Identification of Post-Menopausal Bleeding

The causes of postmenopausal bleeding can be identified by carrying out different tests.

1. Examination of the vagina and cervix: The doctor will perform a pelvic exam and do a physical examination of the vagina, cervix, uterus, etc.
2. Pap smear: Pap smear also known as a Pap test is done to examine cervical cancer in women.
3. Ultrasound: Examining the parts by using an imaging test and its tool kit.
4. Biopsy: A test to remove a piece of tissue or cell and examine it in a laboratory.

Treatment and Management of Post-Menopausal Bleeding

Treatment and management of Post-Menopausal bleeding depend on the cause of the condition and its severity. There are different types of treatments and medication methods that can be followed to treat the condition.

The medication for post-menopausal bleeding are:

1. Antibiotics: Antibiotics are most important when suffering from infections. They can help in treating most infections of the cervix and uterus.
2. Estrogen: Estrogen helps in bleeding caused by vaginal dryness. The prescribed estrogens can be directly applied to your vagina as a cream.
3. Progestin: Progestin is used to treat endometrial hyperplasia and is a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone. One can cure endometrial hyperplasia by using progestin.

The surgeries for post-menopausal bleeding are:

1. Hysteroscopy: Hypersteroscopy includes the procedure to examine the cervix and uterus using a camera. Healthcare uses a hysteroscope to examine the vagina and remove the polyps that cause the bleeding.
2. Dilation and curettage: D&C (Dilation and Curettage) is a testing procedure that includes sampling the lining and content of the uterus. The dilation and Curettage treatment of post-menopausal bleeding is helpful in treating types of endometrial hyperplasia.
3. Hysterectomy: If a woman is suffering from uterine cancer hysterectomy is the surgery needed to remove the uterus and cervix.

If you see any of the symptoms that can lead you to post-menopausal bleeding then it is advised you to see Women’s Obstetrics Health in Dubai, which provides top-class women’s health facilities.