Spotting / breakthrough bleeding as part of peri- can anyone advise or tell me their experiences please. I'm frightened.

[Chaotic45]

I'm almost 45. I had odd spotting in between periods last year and was lucky enough to see a private gynae which I payed for out of my savings. Practically my first question was wether it could be related to the perimenopause, and she was quite patronising and gave me a flat 'no'.

She suggested an ultrasound , and after that an MRI. Neither showed anything untoward. She then suggested that a hysteroscopy would be the best way to be absolutely sure, so I went ahead and had this also.

Nothing worrying was found. She suggested it possibly could be to do with my copper coil. I love my coil so decided to stick with it.

All was pretty much ok since. I've had the odd bit of spotting, but the last two or three months it has been more prolonged and a little heavier. I also have a mild cramps.

I realise I have to see my GP again and I will. I'm reluctant to revisit the consultant, looking back I didn't feel listened to and it cost me a huge amount of money. She left before I came round from my surgery and I had no follow up, so the last I heard was via a lovely nurse who said that all was well and I'd get my biopsy results in a few days.

I also feel that she wasn't correct wrt spotting not being a possible symptom of perimenopause.

I'm hoping that maybe someone else who has been through this might be able to offer any thoughts or advice please.

Oh dear- your consultant sounds pretty bad and maybe money-grabbing (they aren't all like that!)

Spotting is very much part of peri. For most women unless periods have stopped completely, for a year, spotting is not considered an issue (in peri).

However, what you describe having now isn't spotting- surely it's a period but coming early or late? Cycles can be really short in peri ( one of mine was only 17 days) or with long gaps.

If you have cramps, isn't this bleeding a period?

BTW having an MRI for 'simple spotting' in peri is almost unheard of. Most women would have a scan, and if anything looked odd, a hysteroscopy. I really would not go back to her again.

Thanks so much for your reply @JinglingHellsBells.

I've put in a call to my GP this morning and I'm waiting for a call back.

I find it so hard to know when to worry and what to accept it's just a part of a possible perimenopause.

So much that I read tells me that bleeding inbetween periods needs to be investigated. Then I read that it can be a normal part of perimenopause......

You asked if this wasn't just a period. I'm not sure tbh. My period is not due, and they still are pretty regular. I'm fairly sure I ovulated about on time as I often feel a pain around that time.

Thanks for your thoughts, I really appreciate it.

Yes, but you have had investigations. I've had the same ones, but not an MRI (my consultant is one of the UK's top meno consultants) .

Any bleeding in between periods in peri is normal usually - other reasons can be fibroids, cervical polyps, possibly something to do with the ovaries BUT you are clear of all of those.

So a year ago you had an ultrasound, MRI, and hysteroscopy? I suspect if there was anything untoward it would have been found then. Do see your GP though just to be sure.
I’m currently going through all these investigations but I’m post menopause so it’s more serious to have bleeding then. In fact they’ve found a uterine polyp so I’m waiting to have it removed.

@JinglingHellsBells yes I had those investigations, but that was a year ago. Is it possible that something has gone awry since then?

@missyB1 I'm sorry to hear you are having problems. I hope you're able to get things sorted soon .

Thought I'd post an update. GP said that as the blessed calmed down last year but has restarted she would suggest trying to see if there is any underlying cause.

She suggested she sees me for an examination and if she can't see a cause then maybe some blood tests to assess whether I'm perimenopausal as I didn't have any obvious symptoms. She did say the blood test isn't reliable especially as if I am perimenopausal it's early days.

Appointment booked for next week, I'd rather not go to get GP as I'm being extremely cautious wrt coronavirus , but I'm grateful that she is prepared to see me.

@Chaotic45, I have had mid cycle spotting in peri. Did your doctors test your FSH/oestrogen? Coincidentally, mine was tested when I was having a 'spotting' month, and my oestrogen was in the basement and my FSH in orbit, the doctor just put it down to the hormonal chaos! You have had loads of tests, try not to worry so much. I also had spotting when I was feeding my children after six months, it just seems to be common with situations where your hormones are a bit all over the place and maybe conflicting with others.

You ought not to have anything to worry about if you had a scan etc only a year ago.

I'm sorry but your GP doesn't sound that clued up. Spotting in peri is incredibly common. Other reasons for bleeding like this are endometrial cancer which is pretty much unheard of in women who still have periods.

Blood tests for peri are unreliable. NICE has advised GPs not to do them for peri in women under 45.

@jackdawdawn no I haven't had any test like those up until now, but the GP suggested that they might be worth doing. She did Ali’s day they sometimes aren't helpful though.

My FSH was 39 iu/l, which was so off the scale for any time of the month that my GP was forced to concede that I was menopausal without doing another test, so it was quite useful for me!

@jackdawdawn wow! that sounds fairly conclusive. My GP seemed unconvinced that I would be perimenopausal as I have fairly regular periods and no night sweats or hot flushes. I have read though that some people don't suffer these. Did you have these symptoms?

I would say I have a scatterbrain, mood swings, severe tiredness and aches in my joints though- but as a dog walker covering miles each day, with a teen DC and a challenging parents I'm not sure I can blame the menopause! I've always been forgetful too!

I'm around the same age and have had mid cycle spotting twice now this year. I have the copper coil.

I just assumed it was a peri symptom and didn't think any more of it. Possibly because I've read about it on here, I don't know.

Yep I had mid cycle bleeding with the copper coil. It’s actually a fairly common side effect but isn’t spoken about because..,no idea. I actually got so fed up and worried about it I pulled it out, and the midcycle bleeding stopped.

This study is helpful
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702765/

@Dancingbea The study doesn't say the coil causes midcycle bleeding, it says that bleeding at odd times can occur for a long time in some women.

@Chaotic45 Yes, I did have hot flushes from about the age of 44 (I'm 48 now). They started off very mild & mainly occurred in 2nd half of cycle, then intensified over the past two years. No night sweats though!

I have actually heard that some women come right through the transition without experiencing any vasomotor symptoms at all, so a lack of flushes doesn't mean you aren't in perimenopause.

@JinglingHellsBells the study shows that Intermenstrual bleeding/spotting with iud gets worse over time? My point is that women are not told this, and may come off this method as a result or like the OP experience quite acute anxiety.

Fair enough @Dancingbea I had a coil for a few weeks and bled constantly. It had actually slipped down which was the cause for me, but the OP has been examined so that would have shown.

I have spotting about 5 days before my period starts. It lasts about 12 hours then all goes away before I have a period 5 days later.

I am having an internal exam this afternoon and then being referred for a scan as well. I am starting HRT when my next period comes.

I have read it is very common to have spotting in peri, but I think my GP is just being very careful. I'm 43 and still having regular periods between 26-29 day cycle. But I literally have every other peri symptom going!