Bleeding - advice

[Mythologies]

I am in my late 50s periods stopped a year(ish) ago.
I have had occasional very light bleeding.
Three weeks ago bleeding started and didn't stop - it now seems to have become something very like a period - with cramps - requiring a sanitary pad.
Has anyone else had what seemed like a period many months after periods seemed to come to an end?
Ta

You must see your GP without delay. How old are you?
The rule is any bleeding 12 months or more after a final period must be checked out. Your GP will refer you for a scan under the 2-week rule. Please don't delay. It may well be hormonal and a very late final period, but worst case it could be uterine cancer and the sooner it's diagnosed the easier to cure.

Thanks so much for responding Polly I hate my doctor's surgery - they really make you feel like you are wasting their time - but I know I should go.
Bleeding not letting up today - will make an appointment.
My fear is that I will waste time going and they will tell me to 'come back if it doesn't get any better' When I have already waited to see if it would clear up.

I am 58 this year.

I'd advise you to ask for a scan if your dr delays it. You really can't delay this.

If you have the exact date of your last full period you need to take this with you. The rule- and I know this sounds scary- is that any bleeding after 12 months is 'assumed to be cancer unless proved otherwise.'

The other thing is, you don't really know if the bleeding you had up to age 57 was a period or something else. 57 is considered late for menopause and in itself quite rare.

Here are the NHS guidelines

www.nhs.uk/conditions/post-menopausal-bleeding/

Shit - that does not sound good.
I have booked a doctor's appointment online for Friday.
Am so busy that I don't have a moment until then.
Bit worried now ...

It may well be hormonal but this is what you need to find out.

I am trying to reassure you but it's not clear from your first post, what's going on. The rule is any bleeding- even one drop- after 12 months with no bleeding at all, must be investigated.

If you had no bleeding for a year and then you started spotting and have now got a heavy bleed, that's why it needs looking into.

If you have not gone a whole year with no bleeding at all, you could still be peri meno and this could be a heavy bleed due to lining building up, but at 58 that would be quite rare.

I don't know if you have heard of endometrial hyperplasia? This is where the lining gets thicker and thicker because it's not being shed (as in a period.) It is a hormonal condition due to excess estrogen. Eventually the lining comes away with a heavy bleed. But the risk is that as it gets thicker, changes can occur that could mean some cells become cancerous. Hyperplasia doesn't automatically mean cancer, it's just that it can develop from it.

If you have a scan they will look at the lining , it's thickness and any abnormalities. They may also take a biopsy as a separate procedure. (I've had all of these which I why I'm sharing.)

Let us know how you get on? Good luck.

Thanks again very much for replying and for the info Polly
I will go to the doctor's on Friday and insist on a referral.
Will certainly update.

Just to add, I went to my gp with this and she examined me, took a swab and referred me straight away, said I should hear within two weeks.

They won’t think you are wasting their time.
Any bleeding after the menopause is investigated within two weeks so don’t worry what they will think.

Thanks, folks :)