Brown spotting after Menopause

[HPFA]

I've had a very small amount of brown spotting -about a year since last period.

So obviously needs checking out and I understand the recommendation is to have an ultrasound scan.

GP isn't taking online appointments so clearly they're very busy. I assume I'd have to wait ages for an appointment and then wait for the scan. There are plenty of clinics in my area offering private scans - one has a "post-menopausal scan" for £190 and I wonder whether to just go for this? Payment not a problem for me.

As a further complication my last smear (Nov 2019) was borderline but HPV negative and so the NHS won't give you a repeat smear. I've been trying to get one privately but they all seem to just want to do a HPV test as well. I haven't had sex since the negative result so I don't just want a repeat of that test - I want to know if the cells have gone back to normal.

So my basic plan at the moment is to get an ultrasound privately - if that's clear then beg my GP for a repeat smear test (on the grounds of having some spotting and a borderline result last time) and hope she'll agree given I've saved the NHS money by having the ultrasound privately. Does this sound sensible?

Hope this all makes sense and isn't too complicated. Any advice gratefully received!

There are plenty of clinics in my area offering private scans - one has a "post-menopausal scan" for £190 and I wonder whether to just go for this? Payment not a problem for me.

Your GP surely has to be offering appts either by phone, or in person- they can't refuse to see or talk to you.

Your plan isn't the best. I will PM you as it's personal experience.

You won't get a smear processed as the labs only process them when they are due. It is a screening test rather than a diagnostic test. If your GP thinks it is necessary from your symptoms you would be referred straight to gynae.

Give your GP a go before you go any further with a private scan - our GP is no longer doing the online appointments but are triageing phone calls which can actually work out quicker than expected.

I agree @Melroses, but women can get a private smear done for around £70 and the 'lab won't process' isn't an issue.

Many thanks to everyone for replying - I really appreciate the kindness.

As an update: I rang my surgery and got an offer of their automated booking line - at the end of which was told - no appointments! So I thought - can't hack this and decided to go for the private option - bearing in mind the above advice using the more expensive hospital where the scan would be done by a consultant.

BUT - it turns out they want a GP referral anyway so I've now rung the surgery and got a phone appointment for Wed afternoon. So I guess I then decide whether to go private or wait for the NHS.

I don't know why I just feel so incapable of dealing with this - I've been through a similar experience with something else and handled that quite calmly. I think it's because the amount was so little I could have easily missed it if, say, I'd been wearing black knickers! And I know it's stupid but I can't help wishing I hadn't seen it at all!

Well done for getting over that hurdle. Good luck for Weds.

Just wanted to add that menopause isn't hard and fast, so even though it's a year since your last period it's not that unusual for bleeding to return for once last dance! You're right to get it checked out but it could absolutely just be the very normal but incredibly annoying behaviour of our crazy midlife bodies

@Notagain20

Just wanted to add that menopause isn't hard and fast, so even though it's a year since your last period it's not that unusual for bleeding to return for once last dance! You're right to get it checked out but it could absolutely just be the very normal but incredibly annoying behaviour of our crazy midlife bodies

Thank you, that's what I'm hoping.

Weirdly my body does actually feel as if it's trying to have a period - I often used to get a "tingling" down there and that's what I have now. I feel silly for not realising exactly when my last period even was (but I'm 99% sure it has been over a year) because so often in the last year it's felt as if I've started a period but when I've gone to get the supplies I haven't.

The female body is such a wild and unpredictable thing! And if course hugely underresearched, so we still don't know so much about it, especially at this time of life. I hope you get some answers and peace of mind.