What's THIS?! Bleeding after 11 months of nothing - aaargh!

[EllenRipley]

I thought I'd nearly made it to the end! Wtf. Had some very slight bleeding Nov/early Dec, thought nothing of it; I use the vaginal estrogen cream and applications had been a bit sporadic so wee bleeds seemed a normal result of that.

Then a full on period started just before Christmas and it's still bloody going! Not heavy now, but still very much active and my insides feel raw. Feels like my cervix is sore. I had scans/biopsy not that long ago so GP not concerned that it's anything sinister (though I do have history of smallish cysts that do resolve themselves, and I have a very small & shrinking fibroid), or that I have a pelvic infection. Have treated myself for thrush, GP says I might have a bit of a raging BV infection, so getting treated for that.

Feels like my bits need a heavy dose of the estrogen cream but I don't want to exacerbate things in case there is an infection, and I've stopped using tampons.

Scunnered. I thought I was done with the bleeding, do I have to start my 12 month count from scratch again? Will this ever end??! 😩

If you have had recent scans I'd not worry too much.

How old are you now?

It's not usual to bleed after using vaginal estrogen though- what's happening there?

And yes you will start counting again but I bet you are near the end now anyway if you are over 50.

Thanks @JinglingHellsBells, I'm pretty sure some thing similar has happened before but it had been so long since I had a period I think I'm freaking out - me & my body aren't used to this!

I'll be 49 in March. I got lazy using the vaginal estrogen, had started with Ovestin maybe 18 months ago, switched to estradiol suppositories for a while then back to Ovestin but wasn't using it consistently so when I had a bit of spotting at the end of last year I wasn't concerned. Doc has recommended the loading dose again when the bleeding stops. Everything feels v sore & raw so reckon I need it!

Do you think when these bleeds are longer it's because there's been some degree of lining build up when you haven't menstruated for months?

Do you think when these bleeds are longer it's because there's been some degree of lining build up when you haven't menstruated for months?

Yes.

I can't see why you can't use Ovestin now- you might lose some through the bleed but it's worth a go!

You think? I'd used some at what I'd thought was the 'end' of the period, when it was petering out, and then it kicked in again - I was worried the estrogen had set things off again?

The estrogen is far too weak to set anything off- it's not absorbed except in the vagina.

100 applications of Ovestin is equivalent to a single 1 mcg estrogen tablet ( ie a daily dose on systemic HRT.)

It's your own hormones causing the bleeds.

Well I don't know what my hormones were doing overnight but it's heavier like a usual period this morning 😩 ok I will try some damage control on my poor ladybits with the Ovestin and hope my uterus clears itself out before it actually turns itself inside out with the effort. Thanks for your time @JinglingHellsBells! X

@JinglingHellsBells sorry to bother you - but you seem to know about this stuff! Bleeding still ongoing, so I've reached about a month now. Not flooding or what I would class as 'heavy' but fairly constant. Do you think if it was an infection I'd be more obviously ill? I don't have a temperature or cramps (though def a bit achey down there on and off), it feel otherwise unwell apart from general knackeredness (I'm taking iron tho). I know in the back of my mind that it's hormonal, think I'm just looking for reassurance that it's physically possible to bleed this long!

Plan return trip to doc next week if it doesn't settle and have started on tranexamic acid. I checked and my hysteroscopy date last year, it was early August (got all all clear biopsy), scan was in June which showed shrinking fibroid. Could any sinister endometrium changes happen between August & December? Seems pretty quick if so. I'll shut up now 🥴