Is this normal?

[kissmelittleass]

Little bit of background first... my periods stopped in October 2016 aged 48 six months later I bled on and off for a month more like spotting then it ceased again until April this year wherein spotted on and off again for a month ceasing then again. I had a scan last Xmas which showed slightly thickened uterine lining so under GA I had a biopsy done and a d&c. Biopsy was normal. I then after the spotting this April asked for a smear which I had and am still waiting for the results.
Phew... now the thing I came on here to ask about is that sometimes when I open my bowels there would be a drop or two of blood and on wiping and then it goes away, coming from vagina not other end! This morning I opened my bowels and when I had finished there was quite a bit of red blood in toilet and on seat, frightened the life out of me but was coming from vagina again. It then disappeared after wiping myself, very weird and I want to know if anyone else gets this at all? Is it menopause related? I can't find anything about this anywhere so would appreciate anyone in the know advising me.

It sounds like normal peri meno.
Your last period (the on and off bleeding) was March 2017 (ish) - (that's 6 months after October 2016.)
So you went 13 months (ish) to April 2018 when you spotted again.

The definition of post menopause is 12 months with no periods or bleeding. This is a guideline. It' s not always the same for all women. The guideline is there for safety. Some women may have more bleeding off and on after a 12 month gap. You have had investigations and all was fine. That's good!

What you have got is spotting which is very common. Or it's a bit more than spotting and a period. A light period.

48 is relatively young for menopause (51-52 is average age) so you may have some ovarian activity going on = light periods.

I think you have to accept this is peri meno and that you aren't post menopause yet. Eventually it will all stop but if you are worried again, it will be another scan/ possible biopsy but as your gap between periods was only 13 months and you are 'just 48' it's all likely to be normal peri.

Thanks for reply Queen.. that's reassuring, I was 48 when periods stopped in October 2016, just had my 50th birthday now. I don't know too much but I thought as I haven't actually had a period since October 2016 I was post menopause? Is occasional bleeding when a bowel movement passes normal for some people, I just found it strange as the blood stopped as quick as it came?

My periods stopped October 2016 aged 48. six months later I bled on and off for a month more like spotting , then it ceased again until April 2018

I don't think your last period was october 2016!
You have had more bleeding since then.

6 months later ( (March 2017) you had bleeding.
12-13 months later (April 2018) you had bleeding
July 2018 - bleeding again

Don't expect 'peri periods' to be like normal periods. They can be heavy, hardly there, no more than a few spots over one day...anything really!

(I had spotting/bleeding for up to 2 years off and on after what I thought was my last period- went on till almost 54. I had investigations.)

The bowel thing- I think it's just the effect of gravity to be honest. if there is only a tiny bit of blood there, it's going to come out when you relax your pelvic floor to poo. Why not try using a tampon and see what's there ?

If you have had a scan etc only 6 months ago, it's likely all is okay. Obviously wait and see what your smear shows up.

Also- pity this wasn't explained to you...the thickened lining happens because you still have estrogen circulating from your ovaries. But if there is no ovulation, for most cycles, you won't produce progesterone which controls the effect of estrogen on the lining. so the lining continues to grow. Then it comes away as spotting. You may have cycles still where you ovulate and get a real period. You may not. See how it goes and if it's still happening in another 6-9 months, see your GP, But they don't count bleeding as 'post meno' (and needing a scan etc) until 12 months after a final period. You were on the cusp of that when you went 13 months. Your GP was right to refer you, BUT it's not an exact science...some women might go 15 months, others 18 months, before another bleed, but the majority won't bleed again after 12 months. hence the guidelines.

Queen thanks for information, I was never given an explanation as to why my lining was thickened only that it was 6 mm and cut off point is 4. So they needed to get a biopsy, there was no other explanation.
I am now having a very light brownish blood on and off since yesterday, sometimes staining a pad other times not. Is this how it is then? I've had enough of this already.