Postmenopausal Bleeding – Is Bleeding After Menopause Normal?
December 6th, 2020 | [rt_reading_time label="" postfix="min read" postfix_singular="minute"]
What is Postmenopausal Bleeding?
Any amount of bleeding from the vagina after a woman has stopped having menstrual cycles for 12 months (menopause) is termed as postmenopausal bleeding
Spotting or light bleeding after menopause might not seem like a serious problem, but one should never ignore it
Any bleeding should trigger a visit to your doctor as soon as possible
How to evaluate women with Postmenopausal Bleeding?
A gynaecology consultation should be arranged for every woman with postmenopausal bleeding. Detailed history, speculum examination, drug history, family history (any cancers) should be enquired
Transvaginal Ultrasound for better visualisation of pelvic pathology
Office Hysteroscopy – a thin flexible scope to examine the endometrial cavity and its lining (OPD procedure)
Hysteroscopic guided biopsy / Fractional Curettage – samples from endometrial tissue tested for the presence of any cancerous cells
What are the treatment options?
It depends on the cause for the bleeding
Oestrogen therapy: To treat vaginal and endometrial atrophy. Can be prescribed in various forms – oral pills, vaginal cream, vaginal tablet or vaginal ring
Progestin therapy: Ideal for endometrial hyperplasia (simple). Can be used as oral pills or an intrauterine device
Hysteroscopy: For the removal of polyp (polypectomy)
Hysterectomy: In precancerous form of endometrial hyperplasia and early stages of uterine and cervical cancer, total hysterectomy can be performed (sometimes requires lymph nodes removal also)
For late-stage cancers, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be offered