Here we go again??

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

Hi I’m after some advice please. Last year, around about this time, I had the first period that I’d had in about 11/12 months. Because it’s been so long since the previous period I did go to the doctor and to be safe she put me on a two week pathway and I ended up having a hysteroscopy. Nothing untoward has found and they put it down to me probably not actually being in the menopause at that point but the whole thing wasn’t 100% conclusive.
Fast forward to now and I’ve not had a period since that time last year (I’m 48 now.) The past few days I’ve had a sore breasts and low stomach cramps. This morning when I woke up I discovered that I was bleeding. As per last year, it feels exactly like a period.

Now I’m not sure what to do. If I go to my GP are they just going to put me on a two week pathway again and we’ll have a repeat of last year? Lots of examinations in order to conclude that I’m still on the cusp of being menopausal?
I have previously had blood tests done that showed I was in the menopause but then in the same breath the GP said those results weren’t 100% definite 🤷‍♀️.
The people carrying out the examinations last time were lovely but I was assaulted when I was younger and I find anything like that really traumatic.
Anyone else experienced anything similar re-the bleeding?
TIA

I've just had a period after a 7 month hiatus with previous period being little more than a smear of blood on the toilet paper after going for a wee which lasted about a day, prior to that it had been about 5 months since the last.

I'm just assuming that it's how things are. Gradual decline in number of periods over the last 3 years or so with the spacing getting longer and longer between them until one day nothing. I'm not bothered and think this is completely normal in the lead up to menopause so won't be seeking medical advice.

Oh and I'm late 40s

Thanks for replying
I’m inclined to agree -when I went to see the doctor last year I felt a bit sheepish and said to her “I don’t know if I should be here because potentially I’m just a 47-year-old woman telling you I’m having a period for the first time in a while!”
But she put me straight on this NHS 2- week pathway for investigations for possible cancer of the womb . Because I couldn’t be completely sure that it hadn’t been a year since my last period, she said any bleeding need to be investigated.
But it felt a bit like overkill which is why I’m reluctant to go back again if as you say this is just a gradual slowdown.

I have other menopausal symptoms like aches, very occasional hot flashes and dry skin.

It really depends where you live as to whether you'd get an appt with the GP. I could only get a phone appt and that was in November for an unrelated issue. Both DD and I have had 2 hospital appts cancelled this month. We're in London though.

I be can understand your reluctance, but as it is a well known sign of cancer, surely it’s much safer to get it checked out?

Sending a hand hold; I know it can be really distressing.

Cancer of the endometrium is more likely in women over 50 and usually many years post menopause.

I appreciate you are worried, but given you had investigations a year ago and you now have all the signs of hormonal activity, it's pretty unlikely that you have anything seriously wrong in a year AND when you have signs of a cycle.

The rule is any bleeding after a full 12 months needs to be investigated but it looks as if you aren't sure if it's 11 or 12 months .Those timespans are there for as cut-off points but bodies don't work to cut-off points all the time!

TBH as you have signs of a cycle the chances of it being anything serious are almost zero especially as you are only 48. It would be different if you were 56 and had not had a period for 15 months or something like that.

Thank you all.