Period FAQs

can you have a period after menopause

by Orrin Gottlieb Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Menopause is the end of menstruation. In clinical terms, you reach menopause when you haven't had a period for 12 months. Vaginal bleeding after menopause isn't normal and should be evaluated by your doctor.

Common Causes

You are most fertile typically around 10 days to 2 weeks before your period, but there can be a lot of guesswork to figure out this window because it is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Figuring out when ovulation actually occurs is really dependent on your individual cycle.

Related Conditions

Women usually stop menstruating or attain menopause in their 40 or 50s, the average age being 50 years old. Sometimes, menopause may occur earlier due to a medical condition, medication, drug treatment or surgery such as the removal of the ovaries. Menarche and menopause are natural biological processes.

Can You ovulate 10 days before your period?

Typically felt below the belly button in the lower abdomen, ovarian pain can start during the period before menopause occurs, called perimenopause. During perimenopause, the areas around the ovaries and the ovaries themselves can become sensitive and painful. However, ovarian pain may continue well after menopause starts.

What age do you stop having your period?

You can ovulate and not have a period, and you can also have a period without ovulating, says Dr. Bhuyan. The only way that would happen is if it's your first period, where you might not see the...

Does ovulation pain go away after menopause?

Can You ovulate instead of having your period?

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What can cause your period to start again after menopause?

There can be several causes for vaginal bleeding after menopause, including:inflammation and thinning of the lining of the vagina.thinning of the lining of the uterus.thickening of the lining of the uterus, often caused by hormone replacement therapy (HRT)polyps (growths) or other abnormalities in the cervix or uterus.

What is the most common cause of bleeding after menopause?

There can be several causes of postmenopausal bleeding. The most common causes are: inflammation and thinning of the vaginal lining (atrophic vaginitis) or womb lining (endometrial atrophy) – caused by lower oestrogen levels. cervical or womb polyps – growths that are usually non-cancerous.

Is it normal to bleed after years of menopause?

Bleeding after menopause is not normal, so take it seriously. Go directly to your ob-gyn. Polyps also can cause vaginal bleeding. If your ob-gyn discovers these benign (noncancerous) growths in your uterus or on your cervix, you might need surgery to remove them.

Can your period come back after 5 years?

Period back after more than two years It's unlikely, although not impossible, to be a hormonal shift going on again, but in this case, we say, "Please don't worry, but go and see your doctor as soon as you can."

What does postmenopausal spotting look like?

Brown spotting after menopause is typically a sign of blood mixing into the discharge. While fresh blood is red, it turns brown or black as it oxidizes and leaves the vagina. The color may be lighter or mixed with other colors if the woman has an infection, such as a yeast infection.

Can stress cause you to bleed after menopause?

Stress – both physical and mental stress can impact whether or not bleeding after menopause happens just like it can impact a normal menstrual cycle.

Can periods start again after 2 years?

Two years or more without a period There are also a few women that will go for two years or more and find that they get a period back. This is not really very common. And as far as we're concerned, once you have not had a period for two years, then that's...you're well and truly through the menopause.

What cancers cause post menopausal bleeding?

Cancer: Postmenopausal bleeding is a common symptom of endometrial cancer, but it also can be caused by cervical and vulvar cancer. Endometrial atrophy: The tissue that lines the uterus can become very thin after menopause. As the lining thins, bleeding may occur.

What would cause an elderly woman to bleed?

Causes of postmenopausal bleeding include: endometrial carcinoma; cervical carcinoma; vaginal atrophy; endometrial hyperplasia +/- polyp; cervical polyps; hormone-producing ovarian tumours; haematuria and rectal bleeding.

When should I be concerned about spotting after menopause?

Menopause is the end of menstruation. In clinical terms, you reach menopause when you haven't had a period for 12 months. Vaginal bleeding after menopause isn't normal and should be evaluated by your doctor.

Why would a 75 year old woman start bleeding?

Vaginal bleeding in senior adults always needs to be examined. It may come from fragile tissue in the vagina. It may be a benign growth like a polyp on the cervix or inside the uterus. A somewhat frequent cause of bleeding in this age group though is actually abnormal cells, including cancer cells, inside the uterus.

What cancers cause post menopausal bleeding?

Cancer: Postmenopausal bleeding is a common symptom of endometrial cancer, but it also can be caused by cervical and vulvar cancer. Endometrial atrophy: The tissue that lines the uterus can become very thin after menopause. As the lining thins, bleeding may occur.

What Can Cause Period After Menopause?

Whilst going through menopause, however, you may experience bleeding that looks similar to your menstrual cycle, even if you are not ovulating. This is known as perimenopausal bleed ing, and you can even bleed after having already reached your menopause, which can indicate something serious, and you should make a medical visit as soon as possible. Some possible causes are listed below:

Why does my uterus bleed after menopause?

Atrophy of the endometrium (known as endometrial atrophy), is a condition wherein the uterus's tissue lining becomes extremely thin due to low estrogen levels caused by menopause. The occurrence of this condition can cause bleeding after menopause.

What is it called when you have a period after 12 months?

If a woman experiences vaginalbleeding after 12 months of not menstruating, it is known as postmenopausal bleeding . Although this may seem as though you are getting your period after menopause, the bleeding is often due to other causes.

What are the symptoms of endometrial cancer?

Other symptoms of endometrial cancer can include pelvic pain or mass weight loss, abnormal vaginal discharge (watery, blood-tinged), pain or discomfort in sex, blood discharge between periods, etc.

What to expect during postmenopausal bleeding?

Mostly, you will be referred to a hospital for testing, which will help to ascertain the exact cause of the bleeding. Some tests to expect can include: An ultrasound scan of the vaginal region.

Why does my vagina bleed?

This condition may be caused by over-eating and obesity, wherein the lining of the uterus becomes too thi ck, leading to vaginal bleeding. This condition may also lead to the development of abnormal cells, which may be an instigator for endometrial cancer.

Can you have a hysterectomy if you have endometrial cancer?

If it’s determined that you have endometrial cancer, then in most cases a full hysterectomy will be recommended . This may also be recommended if other treatment methods have not proven effective in stopping or controlling heavy bleeding.

Why do women have periods after menopause?

Development of fibroids or polyps on the walls of the uterus could be the reason why a woman may have a menstrual period even after approaching menopause. Polyps or the benign tumor-like growths that appear in the cervix or on the uterine walls may lend a distorted appearance to the uterus and cause bleeding.

When do women start menopause?

Most women become menopausal between the age of 45 to 55 years, however, for some women, the onset of menopause may take place at an earlier age due to lifestyle-related issues.

What happens to the ovum after menstruation?

After the menstrual bleeding stops, the levels of estrogen and progesterone begin to increase. The increase in the levels of these hormones help to thicken the uterine lining and then the release of ovum from the ovary occur s. The egg travels through the Fallopian tubes and lands in the uterus.

What is the last stage of a woman's reproductive life cycle?

Menopause is the final stage of a woman's reproductive life cycle. Though it marks the end of menstruation, some women may experience postmenopausal bleeding or a period after menopause . Given below is some information on the causes of postmenopausal bleeding.

How long does a period last?

The beginning of the menstrual cycle begins the rupture of uterine lining or the endometrium. The menstrual bleeding cycle lasts for a period of 3 to 5 days.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

During the transitional period that precedes menopause and postmenopause, hormonal changes bring about a lot of distressing symptoms such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes, headaches, irregular heartbeat, excessive sweating, weight gain, reduced sex drive, fatigue and sleep disturbances.

What happens if an egg doesn't get fertilized?

If the egg does not get fertilized, there is a decline in the levels of these hormones. As a result, the uterine lining breaks down and this causes menstrual bleeding. After women complete the age of 40 changes start taking place in the reproductive system that include: perimenopause then menopause.

What happens when estrogen goes down?

The shedding of this lining when estrogen goes down takes the woman back to the severe and painful menstrual phase. "This is seen in women who had endometriosis pre-menopause.

Can you bleed after menopause?

So, whether you had endometriosis or not it is better to get checked with your doctor once if vaginal bleeding bothers you during menopause. Here is what it could mean if you bleed post-menopause.

Is menopause bad for women?

Lack of estrogen during menopause leads to a lot of physiological and psychological problems in women. Some of the most common symptoms of menopause are -- vaginal dryness, low libido, decrease in bone density, fatigue and more. Some of these symptoms can be devastating to deal, to an extent that it could make a woman suffer in silence for long. This is when hormone replacement therapy is suggested for women.

Does HRT cause ovaries to bleed?

While HRT doesn't stimula te the ovaries but in women, with endometriosis, the treatment can lead to the same and induce vaginal bleeding or return of periods. Now, endometriosis is a painful disorder in which the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the organs commonly involving the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis. The shedding of this lining when estrogen goes down takes the woman back to the severe and painful menstrual phase. "This is seen in women who had endometriosis pre-menopause. They tend to experience vaginal bleeding when on HRT due to the recurrence of the condition as the ovaries get stimulated," says Dr Jaishree Gajaraj, consultant gynaecologist from Fortis Malar, Chennai.

Why do women bleed during postmenopause?

The potential causes of postmenopause bleeding include vaginal atrophy, endometrial hyperplasia, cervical polyps, or a side effect of hormone replacement therapy.

What is the process of introducing hormones into the body that reduce the effects of menopause?

Hormone replacement therapy . Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the process of introducing hormones into the body that reduce the effects of menopause. HRT varies according to the type of hormone used and method of administration. Different kinds of HRT will have different effects on postmenopausal bleeding.

Why is my vagina thinning?

Vaginal atrophy. Vaginal atrophy is thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal walls due to your body having less estrogen. Women with vaginal atrophy have a greater chance of chronic vaginal infections and urinary function problems.

Can you have a period during postmenopause?

Is it Possible to Have Periods during Postmenopause? Menopause is recognized as a time when a woman finishes ovulating. As this in turn means the uterus lining no longer periodically thickens and sheds, it isn't possible for woman to have a period.

Is postmenopausal bleeding a sign of cancer?

Postmenopausal bleeding could be a sign of endometrial hyperplasia or abnormal and excessive uterine cell growth. The development of these abnormal cells could be cancerous. However, when identified early, therapies are available that can treat uterine abnormalities. To rule out the possibility of cancerous growths, or to allow early treatment, any postmenopause bleeding must be immediately examined by a doctor.

What happens to the endometrium after menopause?

Endometrial hyperplasia (thickening of the uterine lining): After menopause, you may have too much estrogen and too little progesterone. As a result, the endometrium gets thicker and can bleed. Sometimes cells in the endometrium can become abnormal. This could lead to cancer, so get it treated as soon as possible.

What does it mean when you haven't had a period in a year?

Menopause means you haven’t had a period in at least one year. If you have any bleeding -- even if it’s only spotting -- you should see a doctor. They’ll want to rule out serious causes, like cancer.

What causes uterine bleeding?

Endometrial atrophy (thinning of the uterine lining):The endometriumis the tissue that lines your uterus. It responds to hormones like estrogenand progesterone. Low hormone levels after menopause can cause it to get too thin. This may trigger bleeding.

What is the most common symptom of endometrial cancer?

Cancer: Bleeding is the most common symptom of endometrial or uterine cancerafter menopause. It can also signal vaginal or cervical cancer.

How to remove polyps from uterus?

Hysteroscopy: This procedure can remove polyps. Doctors also use it to remove thickened parts of the uterine lining caused by endometrial hyperplasia. They ll insert a hysteroscope into your vaginaand pass tiny surgical tools through the tube.

How long does a vaginal ring last?

Vaginal ring: You or your doctor can put it in place. It releases a steady dose of estrogen for about 3 months.

What journal has abnormal uterine bleeding?

Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health: “Abnormal Uterine Bleeding.”

Bleeding indicates cancer only in a small percentage of cases, even though endometrial cancers are on the rise in American women

You've gone through menopause and you thought your periods were a thing of the past — but suddenly, you're bleeding again, more than a year after your last period.

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Why do women stop having periods?

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her monthly menstrual periods stop because their body stops producing the female hormone estrogen. Your doctor will tell you that you’re officially in menopause when you haven’t had a period for a full year.

What to do if you have cramps after menopause?

If you have cramps after menopause, make an appointment with your primary care doctor or OB-GYN so you can find out what’s causing them. Your doctor may do a pelvic exam to look at your uterus to see if there are any physical problems. You might also need imaging tests to look inside your body at your uterus or ovaries.

What is it called when the uterus grows in other parts of the body?

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that’s normally found in your uterus grows in other parts of your body, such as in your ovaries or pelvis. Every time you get a period, this tissue swells up, just as it does in your uterus. The swelling can cause a cramping pain.

What does it mean when you have cramps after your period?

Once your doctor has told you that you are officially in menopause and your periods have stopped, your cramps are likely a sign of another condition. Along with the cramps, you may have: Cramps may also occur along with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if they’re the sign of stomach upset.

When do you get cramps during your period?

Abdominal cramps during your reproductive years are usually a sign of your monthly menstrual period. For many women, cramps occur a couple of days before their period and during it. But what if you start feeling cramps after you’ve gone through menopause and your periods have stopped?

When do periods taper off?

Your periods will likely taper off in the months leading up to menopause. You may have symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.

Can estrogen cause cramps?

The swelling can cause a cramping pain. Endometriosis usually affects women who still get their period, and it stops at menopause. However, many women who’ve gone through menopause still report having endometriosis symptoms. If you take hormone therapy for menopause symptoms, the estrogen can make your endometriosis worse.

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