Post menopausal bleeding advice

[eeekwhatshappening]

Looking for reassurance... if possible!
Last period 18 months ago. I have yearly mammograms, smears and transvaginal ultrasounds as part of regular gynae care. Last round was 4 months ago - all fine. Have had sore breasts on and off and felt crappy/ headachy over the last couple of days. Today I got my period.

Concerned by the 1yr+ since last period. Would appreciate any positive stories you could share, ladies.

Suggest seeing your GP, need tests to rule out endometrial cancer. The tests you mention don’t check for that.

(A family member had this, caught early and is fine)

This happened to me last year. Cramping etc then bleeding.I had a long cycle but was at least a year since last bleed.
I saw GP (during lockdown), and got a hospital referral quickly.

Had a hysteroscopy and biopsy. Fairly unpleasant, but was all clear. Consultant and nurse both thought it was a period, as I had at the time. Hopefully will be the same for you.

I had this a few months ago. Was put on the two week cancer pathway. All felt a bit rushed and scary at the time but everyone involved was absolutely lovely. I had blood tests to check for cancer markers and a gynaecologist appointment that I had a scan at. All was fine. Was told it can be just one of those things. But it’s very important to rule out the other stuff.

I had a quite a heavy bleed for a few days about 2 years after my last period , had all the tests and I was fine . I was told by Doctors that it is quite normal but always best to get checked out .

Thank you all - the ultrasound measures the thickness of lining of the womb and looks at ovaries closely. Will call on Monday. Keep the positive stories coming!

If your womb lining is normal that’s very encouraging too. If it felt like a period it probably was a last hurrah. I realised after the bleeding that my feeling sick a few weeks previously had been me ovulating ( again consultant agreed).

@MsPavlichenko

If your womb lining is normal that’s very encouraging too. If it felt like a period it probably was a last hurrah. I realised after the bleeding that my feeling sick a few weeks previously had been me ovulating ( again consultant agreed).

It does feel like a period... but a real shock. Due to start HRT next week after appt with menopause clinic yesterday. Guess that will have to wait. Just hope I can be seen quickly.

@eeekwhatshappening Can you put this into a little more context?
Why do you have annual smears, mammos and TVS?

Is there a reason (ie risks for you) or is this something you have under private gynae care and your own choice?

Assuming you are referred by a gynae consultant for all of the above, rather than NHS GP, can you not ask them for their advice?

Howlong is it since your last TVS?
If it's less than a year it's highly unlikely that it's cancer.

The first step with your kind of bleeding is a TVS then possibly a biopsy to check, then possibly a hysteroscopy.
A biopsy alone is 85% accurate, so it's worth doing that first is the TVS shows up anything odd.

I'd not worry. the 12-month cut-off time for 'odd bleeding' is a guide.
In younger women, periods do sometimes come back after 12 months. How old are you?

Thank you for your detailed reply. I do these annually out of choice - I used to live overseas and got into the habit! I travel there yearly for checks so can't easily talk to that gynae. Last appointments were at the end of October - smear and TVS all clear (ovaries, womb lining measurements etc). I'm 52.

If you had a TVS in October, it's almost impossible for it to be cancer of the womb. That takes years to develop. You are 'only' 52 so IMO it's likely to be a hormonal blip. (I went through a similar experience between 53-55 with spotting - had all the investigations incl a hysteroscopy.) It's your choice of course, 100%, but if it were me, I'd not do anything and just wait for your next annual scan if you intend to keep those up.

Thank you. X