Bleeding before period?!

[MurderousFrieda]

AIbU to be worrying myself sick that I have cancer? I do have severe health anxiety and regularly convince myself I have various cancers. It’s awful.

But - I’m bleeding - it’s only very very light and only on the paper when I go to toilet. Sometimes pink, sometimes brown. It’s been going on about 3 days and I’m due a period in 4 days (so it started 7 days before period due).

I have a routine smear test booked but in the mean time, should I be worried? (Or more worried than usual 🙄)

Im 44. No other symptoms

Seeking reassurance is not helpful in health anxiety. I suggest looking up distress tolerance techniques.

Any bleeding out of the ordinary should be raised with a doctor/ medical professional not Mumsnet!

Book an appointment.

It could be age related (peri-menopausal) but you are doing the right thing getting it checked out

Wonky period perhaps.

I have this - I'm a similar age. I put it down to usual peri changes.

If you're concerned - see a doctor.

Is this a once only event? I know unusual bleeding can be a cervical cancer sign but if it’s literally only been once I wouldn’t stress if it carries on being an issue over multiple cycles then speak to your dr. Can be a normal part of peri, or can be down to cervical polyps or thinning of vaginal skin…lots of things other than cancer.

Ps. Just so you are aware, routine smears are not used as a diagnostic tool for women with symptoms.

Hi just a quick message that I’ve had what your fearing and it’s completely treatable if you go for your smear now, tell them what’s wrong as you can only have 1 in a set period unless you have symptoms. Honestly please just go it’s not that bad. I don’t know why it’s been said smears don’t diagnose this as that’s exactly how they found my abnormal cells. Don’t be scared you’ll be ok. The most horrible part is the wait for the result.

Could easily be cycles getting shorter with peri menopause.

Or I've had mid-cycle bleeding with both cysts and fibroids. Both are annoying, neither are dangerous.

However, the Internet can't diagnose you. Don't stress about it, but do chat about it when you go for your smear and ask if they think you need a GP appointment.

@Roosnoodles Yes obviously they can find abnormal cells at a smear test but if a woman has bleeding or red flags for cervical cancer they diagnose via ultrasound and hysteroscopy. It’s why women with symptoms are advised to seek advice not wait for a booked smear.

This isn’t what happened to me at all.

@Roosnoodles “What is cervical screening?
Cervical screening is a way of preventing cervical cancer. It is not a test for cancer. It tests for a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).” Source - https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cervical-cancer/getting-diagnosed/screening/about. You may well have had a test …the GP caring for someone reporting unusual bleeding is required to do a visual and physical exam, but cells taken in routine smears are only looked at if the person tests positive for HPV…hence other measures are needed for someone who is symptomatic.

This would have been my first thought, how you deduced cancer is mind boggling

I think unfortunately for some people they will take every sign and symptom as being the worst…I’m surprised the op has got to 44 without ever having a wonky period before. Sadly I’m more used to those who sit on red flag symptoms for months before seeking help. It’s a hard balance for people to manage psychologically and getting older doesn’t help !

I don’t know why you keep pushing at this I have quite literally lived through it. I went in told them I had abnormal bleeding they told me to book for a smear to test for abnormal cells. It came back positive. I went to the hospital they removed some cervix cells. Took another test at the time came back negative. Retested two years later. Clear. To tell this women that she will be having an ultrasound and hysterectomy when I’ve been treated and had no such thing is just aggravating a person who has already said in her post that she’s scared is ludicrous and quite troll like.

I started getting this about your age, also my cycle gradually went down from 29 days to 26 or 27 days. Apparently this is not unusual and it hasn't caused any problems.

I am going through similar at the moment. I took a break from my pill but period hasn't stopped. I also noticed bleeding after sex so am having a pelvic ultrasound scan soon. I also worry about the worst but trying to remember my age and so hormones might be responsible.

just because something has happened to you doesn’t mean to say that’s what happens to every woman who presents…the op is booked in for a ROUTINE smear this isn’t the same as a gp doing an exam and ordering one as part of a consultation and process. I am trying to push the message that women experiencing symptoms should NOT wait for a routine smear but should consult their dr. as ROUTINE smears ( like what the op is booked in for ) are NOT diagnostic …or do you not believe cancer research? It’s a screening test and no screening test is 100% accurate. I haven’t said she WILL be having anything.@Roosnoodles you haven’t read my post properly I said HYSTEROSCOPY not hysterectomy…the former is an investigation.

Nobody mentioned a hysterectomy.

The tests you had don't rule out other possible reasons for bleeding between periods, such as ovarian cancer.

When I was tested because of bleeding between periods, I was given an ultrasound scan.