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

balance-menopause.com/uploads/2021/09/Vaginal-bleeding-during-perimenopause-and-menopause.pdf ends up recommending period pants: about which I have an "over my dead body" reaction. Not impressed !! Also linked to some App product they are trying to promote. Good way to know whose advice I don't want to follow, I suppose.

Before the scan appointment take some ibuprofen. I had a biopsy taken at the same time although they didn't tell me they were doing that. It was uncomfortable but not painful as such. I wonder if the reason they didn't say they were doing it was to not make me tense up? I then was told I would need a hysteroscopy which I was dreading so I asked for it to be done under a GA which they agreed to without question. You have the right to ask for this.

Hijacking, sorry, but if I'm 49 and had had a totally normal feeling period after 16 months without any...but with the exact same moodiness and other hormonal changes in the week before as I always had previously...and it only lasted for a normal length of time, everything about it was exactly as expected, and I've had no more periods in the 3 months since...is it likely to be anything concerning?

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor You've got an appt for a scan at the moment- a hysteroscopy might not be needed. Scans are so good now that unless they see anything dodgy that's all you will need.

The scan is a doddle. Believe me- had loads and loads (and I pay for them privately as an 'MOT' every couple of years.)

At one point I had them every 4 months because I had an ovarian cyst they were keeping an eye on.

The probe doesn't go in very far at all- nowhere as high as for a smear. It's plastic and they use a 'condom' over it and a good dollop of lubricating gel. You also need an empty bladder , compared to a scan over the abdomen.

I think your GP is wrong not to allow you to use topical vaginal estrogen as none is absorbed by the uterus anyway, and my consultant always advises post-meno women use it for 10 days before a smear.

Anyway- don't worry. Most bleeding is not cancer and just a hormonal blip or severe vaginal atrophy causing the walls to bleed.

Yes I have had this. Had been about 18 months clear of periods. It started initially not feeling like a period, had sone bleeding every 8 weeks or so, within 6 months I was bleeding so badly I had to take norethisterone to stop it.

I had a few scans and eventually a hysteroscopy . Turned out to have a load of polyp type growths which were removed , and am now on Mirena and oestrogen patches.

I am sure your scan will turn out to be nothing. At one if my scans, the operator said she was seeing a lot more than normal with the same thing .

You need to tell your GP, bleeding after a year needs to be checked.

Thanks,I've had lots of internal scans before, easy peasy 😊

Yes I also had this 20 months after my last period. In the days beforehand I had symptoms that I’d often had before a period - moodiness, tender breasts etc.
I had an ultrasound and then a hysteroscopy. The hysteroscopy was done under GA at my request and while at the hospital the consultant asked how old I was (53) and said it was quite common at that age to have a big rush of hormones. Neither the scan or the hysteroscopy showed anything, so I guess that’s what it must have been - I wish they’d suggested that as a possibility in the first place so that I may not have stressed quite so much!
I hope all goes well for you OP

Thank you,glad all was ok with you,that's reassuring.

Still waiting for a scan date. I don't know of the w week pathway means a scan within two weeks or just a date?

Had what seemed like a light period 2 years after my last 'proper' one. Had a transvaginal ultrasound, and after the gynae explained that you can get a last sort of 'rogue' egg that's releases After a gap, and, as a 1-off, nothing to worry about.

I did feel very hormonal so it makes sense. Thanks for sharing.

Any news yet OP? I’ve just requested a GP appointment for similar via e-consult (no GP appointments available til 15 September 😮) so I’m hoping they will get me in sooner and refer me for a scan or something. Glad I know about the two week pathway, I’ll be more confident when speaking to them now, should I not get a response soon.

And the ‘two week pathway’ is you should actually see a specialist within the two weeks following your referral letter/referral appointment being received by the the relevant service.

It will be 2 weeks this Thursday since I spoke to the GP, he has referred me as I rand the surgery to double check. Not hugely confident it's going to happen this week to be honest.

Did you tell the receptionist it was for bleeding, they got me in sooner because I was 'firm' about it. Rang on the Monday and had the phonecall on the Thursday.

I haven’t actually spoken to anyone yet (I called and I was no 37 in the queue 😮). So I did an e-consult, email says they will contact me before end of day tomorrow. I’ll chase it up if not.

Good luck

Maybe ask the surgery what date did the referral letter/call arrive at the scan dept (or call scan dept if you know who/where they are). Your appointment should be within two weeks from that date. Hope everything goes well for you.

GP just called and confirmed everything with me from the e consult, he is sending the info to the gynae unit today and they will contact me direct - hopefully - within the two weeks, so should hear something by 22 August fing🤞

Oh good. If I don't hear anything by tomorrow I'll be chasing it up.

I chased up my appointment. The receptionist said the GP hadn't done it as a 2 week pathway but just as urgent. I said I was pretty sure that wasn't what was meant to happen and googled the NICE guidelines and quoted them to her. She got back to me and said I should hear by Friday with an appt. I am so cross they tried to fob me off!! They said it was 2 weeks from the scan,well the scan could be ages 🙄

🙄 good job you know what’s supposed to happen! I’m half expecting something similar but I’m on it. For reasons I won’t bother you with I would say my family are ‘heavy users’ of the NHS over the last five years or so. I’ve had to get very used to advocating for three different people with different issues and speaking to various specialists departments etc I usually get the result but I constantly wonder about the people who don’t or can’t speak up - what happens to them. Hope you do get your appointment!

Just got a call with appt for 22/8 (just within the two weeks) gynae at the nearest hospital.

That's great. I haven't heard anything yeti will be ringing tomorrow to chase it up.

Just want to say thanks for this thread, it’s helped me.
Sudden bleeding post meno, sent online bullet-point note to my GP 10 days ago, scans within 10 days and now hysteroscopy in next 2 weeks.
This thread has been so very helpful