Return of periods after menopause??

[comfortablyfrumpy]

I am post menopausal (well that's what I thought)... was clear for well over a year and then had some bleeding episodes last autumn. Put onto 2 week pathway, scans showed cyst which then subsided but womb lining thickened and increasing.

I'm now having what really feels like a period rather than just some bleeding - clots and all. (Sorry, TMI) So I'm now thinking maybe I hadn't completely gone through menopause? I just don't know what to think!

Has anyone experienced similar?

I've got a hysteroscopy next week due to the increased thickening in my womb.

Yes back in summer had a cyst which on 2nd scan had reduced. I dont know if they will scan them again when I next go?

Usually, anything serious starts with spotting or a watery pink discharge.

Oh no, this is pretty much what I have (both brown spotting and pink discharge). Smear (HPV) test and CA125 normal, ultrasound shows some thickening (but I'm not convinced abnormal considering I was about to bleed). No one seems in any hurry to do anything though, what should I be highlighting when I speak to GP @JinglingHellsBells

Thanks in advance for all your knowledge on these threads and sorry for hijacking your thread OP - hope you are okay.

@comfortablyfrumpy

Yes back in summer had a cyst which on 2nd scan had reduced. I dont know if they will scan them again when I next go?

No harm in requesting another scan.

@dollymuchymuchness

Have you had your ovaries scanned?

Ovaries do not usually cause flooding or bleeding. Most serious issues with ovaries are never found until it's very late (which is why if you can ever afford to access an 'ovary MOT) it's worth the cost!)

The signs of ovarian cancer are not bleeding.

@Livelifeinthebuslane

Usually, anything serious starts with spotting or a watery pink discharge.

Oh no, this is pretty much what I have (both brown spotting and pink discharge). Smear (HPV) test and CA125 normal, ultrasound shows some thickening (but I'm not convinced abnormal considering I was about to bleed). No one seems in any hurry to do anything though, what should I be highlighting when I speak to GP @JinglingHellsBells

Thanks in advance for all your knowledge on these threads and sorry for hijacking your thread OP - hope you are okay.

@Livelifeinthebuslane If you are 12 months without a period, then you ought to be referred for an ultrasound scan.

If you are not post menopause then it is likely to be peri menopause causing spotting etc and it doesn't usually need investigating. You sound as if you have had a lot of tests anyway that showed nothing.

Thanks Jingling. They want me to go back for a second scan for clearer pictures but haven't arranged this, and they ?hyperplasia but I'm still waiting to see the GP so no follow up. I had put it down to crappy hormones, but was a bit anxious when I read your post, but I'll go back to the crappy hormones theory until anyone tells me otherwise!

When I had a hysteroscopy for unexplained bleeding, they put a mirena in while I was under GA. I did have uterine thickening found on u/s.

Mine was endometrial cancer. The mirena apparently can stop the spread of the cancer cells as well as the bleeding. I had a radical hysterectomy and it's all good now.

@Livelifeinthebuslane I really wouldn't want to tell you not to have any further checks. Obviously, I'm just replying to your one post here and don't know the background.

BUT in general, if you are not yet post menopause, any odd bleeding is likely to be 'normal' peri.

Ideally, a scan should be done when the lining is thinnest, so no later than days 8-9 of a cycle when your period is over and the lining hasn't grown much.

At any other time, the lining will be thicker. There is a wide range of normal thicknesses depending on where a woman is in her cycle and if, during peri, you have gone for a few months with no period at all.

For example, 16mm can be normal in peri, whereas post menopause, and not on HRT, the safe level is no higher than 5mm.

Ovaries do not usually cause flooding or bleeding. Most serious issues with ovaries are never found until it's very late (which is why if you can ever afford to access an 'ovary MOT) it's worth the cost!)

The signs of ovarian cancer are not bleeding.

I'm an ovarian cancer survivor. My main symptom was post-menopausal bleeding. Be careful @JinglingHellsBells, what you post.

The clinical symptoms of Granulosa Cell Tumour of the ovaries are abdominal pain and abnormal vaginal bleeding, and some cases may also present with menorrhagia, irregular menstruation, or amenorrhea in the reproductive age group. GCT is a cancer with long natural history, and recurrence often happens after 5 years of follow-up

I am sorry if my post upset you @dollymuchymuchness.

Anyone wanting to check their symptoms should look at the Ovacome charity website which has a list. I may be wrong but I don't think bleeding is listed- happy to be corrected. Usual signs are bloating, weight gain or loss, pain, etc.

The cancer you mentioned is very rare and a genetic condition as far as I can see online.

I hope you continue to stay well

Ideally, a scan should be done when the lining is thinnest, so no later than days 8-9 of a cycle when your period is over and the lining hasn't grown much.

That didn't take this into account when booking my scan at all, they didn't even ask, I was at around day 21 and 13mm, so seems a bit pointless really!

@Livelifeinthebuslane

Ideally, a scan should be done when the lining is thinnest, so no later than days 8-9 of a cycle when your period is over and the lining hasn't grown much.

That didn't take this into account when booking my scan at all, they didn't even ask, I was at around day 21 and 13mm, so seems a bit pointless really!

Ive copied this from a website for medics doing scans.

You can see that at day 21, the upper limit is above what yours was.

Premenopausal

In premenopausal patients, there is significant variation at different stages of the menstrual cycle.

during menstruation: 2-4 mm 1,4

early proliferative phase (day 6-14): 5-7 mm

late proliferative / preovulatory phase: up to 11 mm

secretory phase: 7-16 mm THIS IS THE DAYS LEADING UP TO YOUR PERIOD AFTER OVULATION

Please note that these measurements are a guide only, as endometrial thickness may be variable from individual to individual.

You haven't upset me at all. I just think you need to get your facts right before you post.

There are many different types of ovarian cancer. The one I have is a Granulosa Cell Tumour, which isn't genetic. I don't know where you are getting your information from @JinglingHellsBells.

Common symptoms associated with ovarian cancer include:

Bloating
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

Less common symptoms include:

Fatigue
Indigestion
Back pain
Pain with intercourse
Constipation
Menstrual irregularities
Post menopausal bleeding

Around five per cent of ovarian cancers come from the stromal cells (these cells make up the core of the ovaries). Stromal cell tumours may occur in women of any age although certain tumours may be more common in adolescence.

Granulosa cell tumours are an example of a stromal cancer.

Approximately 90 per cent of ovarian cancers come from epithelial cells, which form the surface layer covering the ovaries. Epithelial cell tumours (sometimes referred to as carcinomas) usually occur in women older than 50 years.

Five per cent come from the germ cells. Germ cells in the ovary are the cells that develop into eggs. Germ cell tumours usually occur in younger women.

There are also rarer types of ovarian cancer, for example sarcomas, which arise from the connective tissue within the ovary.

So sorry to derail your thread @comfortablyfrumpy, but it's important to correct mis-information posted, as it can be misleading.

@dollymuchymuchness The last thing I want is a row, here, and I have said I am happy to be corrected. You sound rather annoyed with me and that's not my intention. I was trying to reassure another poster who is , in any case, having investigations.

The information I mentioned is from Ovacome (leading UK charity for OC) where vaginal bleeding is listed as a less common symptom.

Anyone with post meno bleeding should have a scan and that's what I've always posted.

I hope you continue to stay well.

Coivid vaccine and boosters are having these effects on some women. There was a thread on here not so long back about this.

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@dollymuchymuchness The last thing I want is a row, here, and I have said I am happy to be corrected. You sound rather annoyed with me and that's not my intention. I was trying to reassure another poster who is , in any case, having investigations.

The information I mentioned is from Ovacome (leading UK charity for OC) where vaginal bleeding is listed as a less common symptom.

Anyone with post meno bleeding should have a scan and that's what I've always posted.

I hope you continue to stay well.[/quote]
I'm not annoyed with you or looking for a row. It's interesting how easy it is to jump to conclusions.

Anyone with post-menopausal bleeding definitely needs a full investigation. I was referred on the two week cancer path.

Thanks for your good wishes.

Those who are have had flooding - is it usual to be so painful? I used to get flooding in peri- but don't remember it being this bad or this painful.

I am finding it really painful to sit down, or stand up. I am trying to work but it is so uncomfortable, I am struggling to concentrate at all.