If you had post menopausal bleeding did it feel like a period?

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

Not had a proper period in 2 years , had a couple of spots last year with Covid jabs ( actually on the days of the jabs) but now I'm spotting again . I fully plan to get checked out asap but if anyone else had this did the bleeding feel like a period with PMS or just spotting? And did it turn out to be sinister?

TIA

Bump...

Yes I did in Feb. It felt just like a period (after 18 months of no periods). Finally got round to mentioning to the doctor a month ago.
She got me seen under the 2 week wait thing. All OK- but the the gynae did say why on earth had I waited so long.
Simple answer was I kept forgetting - and having to get through to the damn doctors for an appointment...

Thanks for replying. Glad all was ok. I'm worrying as I missed a smear so am well over due. I'm going to ring first thing.

Did you have a hystoscopy (?)

No - I had a transvaginal ultrasound. Quick and easy - although disconcertingly warm :) Then the consultant checked the scans and did a visual with speculum.

Make the appointment and it'll stop playing on your mind. Fingers crossed fir a good result for you too

Thank you,I'll update later 😊

If you’ve recently started or changed HRT this can cause spotting which usually settles. Vaginal atrophy can cause spotting due to thinner vaginal walls which having sex can exacerbate with increased friction and micro tears.

Any unexplained spotting would usually be referred on the 2 week pathway with transvaginal scan done and then if needed a hysteroscopy. Causes can include thickened womb lining, polyps and fibroids.

No HRT. I'll call GP first thing and take it from there..

I have a phone appt on Thursday.

Great. As it’s phone so no examination also (just in case you hadn’t checked), have a look to see if the spotting might be coming from the vulva where we can sometimes get skin splits.

Already checked using a mooncup- had to dust that off 😂

I've been referred for a scan under the two week pathway.

i've had this twice 4 years apart.
both times was a small benign fibroid
easily sorted out good luck xxx

nothing regular but smeary spotting when I was about 60, I'm 70 next week. Started menopause at 55, never had HRT. Doctor took it seriously, I had a transvaginal scan and then a hystoscopy ( it turned out I had a cluster of fibroids, all benign) No symptoms since. All the very best to you.

I was referred straight away for a hysteroscopy - but I did have a history of breast cancer. I had biopsies taken, and long story short it showed pre cancerous changes. I had my ovaries, tubes and womb removed. So relieved I sought and received tests and treatment quickly.

Sorry don't want to hijack thread but I'm spotting after 4 months of no period - is that ok?

Yes, it's over a year that they suggest getting checked out.

Thanks for posting this. I've just had exactly the same no period for 2yrs, irregular before that. Highly emotional evening and then last night what looks and feels like a period.
Never had HRT. Had an awful night , feel awful but also slight panic. Will be calling the doctors today, hopefully manage to speak to someone. X x

Thanks for thread. Am currently on a wait list.

Sorry for TMI just to say that... the blood I'm seeing is not like period blood, is key difference to a period. Too red, basically. The persistence itself is also not like a period, my periods where very short & light.

GP already found a fibroid, had a blood test yesterday, some kind of scan in next 2 weeks.

Here’s a link to some information about bleeding in perimenopause and menopause balance-menopause.com/uploads/2021/09/Vaginal-bleeding-during-perimenopause-and-menopause.pdf

If a referral is made a transvaginal scan is usually done first where a thin wand shaped instrument is placed into the vagina and from there can see through to the womb (or in my case couldn’t as a fibroid was in the way!). If needed a hysteroscopy is then done. This can see the womb in more detail.

Update

Called the docs. Got a face to face appointment this morning (!), not assessed but immediate 2 week referral to gynae as it was after a yr.
What ever it is, will deal with it , but thanks to this thread it's getting sorted quicker than I thought possible. X x

I'm in the process of this too. I'd had a six month course of Zoladex injections to stop my ridiculously heavy flooding periods. It seemed to work and they stopped about a year ago.

I began some bleeding last Saturday though, 12 months almost to the day from my last period. I saw the GP on Tuesday morning and he referred me straight to the post menopausal bleeding clinic at the hospital. I have an appointment for an ultrasound scan on 4th of August followed by a further appointment at one of the gynaecology clinics on 8th of August.

Fingers crossed for everyone here who is also going through this.

Good luck to everyone who is going through the same. Really trying not to get panicky yet but the idea of a hysteroscopy really scares me as I know people who have had it and it's grim. One bridge at a time...

Experiences of a hysteroscopy vary massively and we mostly hear the worst ones.

I ensured I knew everything that was going to happen beforehand and then talked it through with the consultant, including what pain relief was available if it became too uncomfortable. I had already taken an ibuprofen and a paracetamol beforehand. She explained that if she thought I needed it or if I felt I needed it she would give me an injection to numb the area, and gas and air with also available.

Other than that I was about able to chat normally and discuss what was seen during the procedure with no pain whatsoever. Having used top8cal estrogen for quite a while beforehand helped. In the event nothing was needed and the only uncomfortable bit with where the thin hysteroscope wouldn’t initially go through the cervix but then it did, and it was also stingy with a few seconds when the biopsy was taken.

other than that I was able to chat normally with the consultant about what was seen during the procedure with no pain whatsoever. It probably helped that I’ve been using topical oestrogen for quite a long time beforehand.

Not allowed topical oestrogen until I have the all clear,I'm dreading the scan as I'm so uncomfortable let alone any type of procedure.

Maybe use some vaginal moisturiser such as Yes VM or if you find this stingy which can happen if very dry/sore try Yes OB.