Gynae issues. Worried sick. Spotting between periods.

[McWorry]

Hi,

I am 46, nearly 47. Never had kids. I’m gay and never slept with a man. I have been with my partner years but had partners before her. Smears have been clear. Never had anything show on the last few I’ve had.

I delayed having a smear years though, (remiss of me) and went finally last year after getting spotting and discharge. The discharge was a bit bloody and lasted a day or so.

I went private and gynae said he could see a cervical polyp. This terrified me.

he did a trans USS and told me everything except the polyp was ok.

Smear taken, cytology (cells, like the old way they did it) and HPV testing.

smear came back clear. No HPV or bad cells.

Referred to have polyp removed. Was on waiting list months and meantime I went few months later (June) for another trans vaginal US as I was worried about the thickness of my womb from first vaginal scan. Gynae said time of month meant it was 10.1mm and that was ok but be prudent to check again just as period finished so I did and it was 7mm, 4 days after period but this time the Gynae (another one) found a small subserosal fibroid. Didn’t really comment more and said it all looked ok.

no polyps seen inside uterus and sent me off with a report as it was private.

nhs waiting list to have polyp removed went in and on waiting and meantime I felt ok, getting on with things until I got a letter 11 months after referral. I was going on holiday and couldn’t cancel so asked for a reschedule. Anyway they didn’t and I was waiting and went to my gp. Who then referred me and I’ve been waiting and this month things have gone downhill for me.

so my period cycle is 21-23 days and has shortened over the last few years. Anyway, I noted a week before my period I get spotting, usually isn’t much and then goes except this month, last period 10th September and yesterday started with brown bloody discharge. Today, light brown all day and thought it was going and then went loo, pinky blood. I’m not due till next week and I’m so worried it’s something bad. I’m scared it’s because the polyp is bad or fibroid and been left all this time.

any advice welcome. I haven’t got many symptoms of peri menopause, except low sex drive, headaches, aching joints and low mood. No hot flushes or anything else on the list.

note, also found I have an under active thyroid, my TSH was 20.3 which I believe is high and I’ve been put on meds at higher does. Not sure if that effects periods but tbh, I’m a wreck thinking the worst.

I think disturbed cycles and spotting are very common in peri menopause. And not all women get the classic symptoms. You’re right to get this checked out, but I think the simplest explanation (hormonal changes) is almost certainly the right one.

why would perimeno cause it?

Absolutely this - peri has a symptom list as long as your arm and yours definitely feature on that list. Please try not to worry, the best thing you can have is a hormone blood check so that you know if you need synthetic treatment. I’m 46 and it took me a good two years to realise I was peri and I put up with so many symptoms in the meantime and chalked them up to other things.

Bloods don’t always show though?

do you still have regular periods?

What were your symptoms x

Bloods show hormone levels, they definitely do if they test for that. I am always a bit wary of ‘full bloods’ as that’s not a term the NHS use. Your blood gets taken and it is tested for what the GP requests it be tested for. I have regular bleeding now as am on a hormone regime that includes the pill, but before it was spotting and barely there one month and then a literal bloody deluge the next month. Also wasn’t always a whole month - sometimes a fortnight in between. It was hell, I totally sympathise, but it was definitely my body moving to the next stage. I’ve only been on HRT since February and we have had to mess around with the dose because my body seems to see hormones. But I am totally coming out the other side of feeling like utter crap and not knowing why.

You're in the classic age bracket for peri symptoms to be showing, including changes to frequency and regularity of periods. It happens because your hormone levels are fluctuating and changing and stop being so predictable. Spotting, heavy periods, no periods then suddenly a tsunami - all sorts can happen. Try not to worry, what you're describing all sounds very typical perimenopause. Blood tests not required or particularly helpful for peri.

https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/knowledge/perimenopause-menopause-and-hrt-everything-you-need-to-know

Because your hormone levels are a bit all over the place during peri. You may not be ovulating or your ovaries may not produce optimal levels of progesterone even if you do ovulate. I have had phases of spotting between periods because of funny hormone levels caused by stress, after-effects of miscarriage, temporary thyroid issues…and peri menopause.

I have regular periods though, not skipped, that’s why I can’t see how it’s peri? I’m nearly 47 though but still…. Just been loo, pink bloody when I wipe. Stressful as F. It has been brown all day now pink.

They are not regular if you have spotting in between, spotting is a sign of disregulated periods. I'm 46.

Yes, this, said it much better than I could.

You’re the same age as me. I am 47 next month.

I seem to get a period every 21-23 days though one month it was day 28 which was odd but this month is so worrying. I’m a nervous wreck nevause I know I have a cervical polyp. But I don’t think cervical polyp has caused this much bleeding. It hasn’t before till now and I’ve known about it over a year. It’s 1.5cm ish I think the Dr said. That is considered large.

been loo before, pinky red and not showing signs of stopping. It isn’t flowing like a period so I’m waiting to see what it does next. Horrible, every time I go loo, I am a wreck worrying what it’ll be like.