Post menopausal bleeding & 2 week referral pathway - anyone want to join me for a handhold while we’re waiting?

[Wobblestitch]

Saw my GP today following 3 days of light bleeding & spotting and now on the 2 week referral pathway.

Trying not to PANIC 😱& wondering if anyone else is in the same situation and wants a virtual handhold, or anyone who’s been there and done that and wants to share their experience.

In case it rings bells with anyone else - I’m 52, not sure exactly when my last period was but over 12 months ago, not on HRT (have prescription but not started yet) & have had red / pink bleeding & spotting.

I had exactly this 12 months ago, had scans and investigations - all clear. I suspect it was post Covid jab- lots of the internet about it happening to
Other women

I had this some years ago, several years after last period. Had a hysteroscopy on 2WW protocol and, thankfully, it was all clear. Apparently the vast majority do not find any problems according to the nurse specialist I saw
Good luck with yours

I had bleeding a few months after starting HRT. It was getting more frequent, really heavy and erratic so GP reckoned it wasn't the HRT and sent me for a scan. It was a polyp that is more than likely not anything suspicious (something like 90% not an issue but can cause bleeding). I will be getting it removed shortly though just in case.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, really helps.

Yes I'm in the middle of the process now. I had my scan last week and have my consultant appointment next week. It's highly likely it's nothing, but they have to refer everyone to catch those few cases where it isn't nothing. Waiting is pretty hideous though.

I had this earlier this year and was referred on the two week pathway. It was a polyp which was removed at the time it was identified. It was very scary beforehand but all turned out to be fine.

I had this about 9 months ago and was referred on the 2 week pathway. I had an ultrasound and the a hysteroscopy to check for a suspected polyp. It turned out that there wasn’t a polyp and everything was clear.
The consultant that I saw said that it was quite common at my age (53) to have a big rush of hormones that would cause the bleeding.

I do know what you’re going through, it’s so hard not to worry no matter how hard you try, but hopefully reading the responses here will help.

Good luck OP 🌺

Hi @Akite, hope all goes well at your consultant appointment next week.

Yes, waiting is hideous!

Hi OP, I've been through the process three times in the last two years - a total of four scans, two hysteroscopies and two biopsies. The consultant has now prescribed Vagifem in the hope that that's the cause of the problem - I'm not so sure but am trying it.

In case they haven't explained to you the exact process - and it does vary between regions - they'll do an ultrasound scan first, measure your endometrial lining and look for any obvious polyps etc. Any measurement over 4mm will see you referred on for a hysteroscopy and possible biopsies. In my region this happens on different dates, I believe in other places it can all happen on the same day.

I'm trying to think of anything that "I wish I'd know at the beginning". Some thoughts:

It would have been good to know how nice everyone is. My GP was lovely when I got really stressed about it all.Not everyone has a good experience with the hysteroscopy (and you may not need one anyway) but both times the doctors and nurses involved were constantly asking how I was and telling me how well I was managing and so on. And I've honestly had worse times at the dental hygienist - I was very lucky.

I'm not sure how well I can explain this but I realise now you don't know what the best outcome is until you've been through it. So for instance for most women getting the all clear at the scan stage is a great outcome. But if you turn out to be a repeat offender (like me) it's better to have gone through scan/ hysteroscopy/biopsy because then you get much longer before they need to recheck. I wasted a lot of energy being traumatised that my first scan was 5mm which meant I had to have the hysto - but that turned out to be the best thing for me in the end.

Do be prepared for some annoying bureaucracy - I had to chase up referrals and my final precious biopsy results letter arrived eight days after its supposed posting date! Not sure why the NHS hasn't heard of Emails!

It is a stressful process but for most women it does end in good news. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Thanks so much everyone for taking the time to reassure me and explain what the next steps may be.

I was diagnosed with melanoma last year (all looking good now) so have had a bellyful of referrals / appts / waiting for results etc.

I'm going to sound a bit thick here but when my mum was about 48 she had a "period" a few years after she'd gone through the menopause. I was only 16 at the time, so didn't really understand what was going on, but from what I remember she was really worried and saw a private consultant, who performed a D&C on her and everything was found to be absolutely fine. This was about 1983 so procedures will most likely have changed but I just wanted you to know that she was absolutely fine. It was as if there was a cloud hanging over us and she was terrified but she was told afterwards that these things can just happen. Sorry I don't have any more details but I couldn't read your post without commenting.

Thanks for sharing your mum’s experience @Eightiesgirl, really reassuring.

Thanks @HPFA for a great explanation of the process, my GP was quite vague about everything so your explanation really helps.

I had this in September,bleeding 2 years post menopause. I had a scan and they found a cyst which they're monitoring every 4 months. Nothing else sinister.

Updating in case it’s useful for anyone now or in the future.

I had my scan & have been discharged. Nothing abnormal found, doctor said bleeding likely due to vaginal atrophy or random ovulation of knackered left over egg.

I have this too. No period since June 2021, started hrt in June this year. I have been lightly bleeding for 10 days now. I saw my gp on day 3 and she told me to stop taking the hrt and wait 6 weeks. Not sure why I didn't get referred on to 2 week pathway 😕. Alot can happen in 6 weeks

Presumably you're on the combined patch? That frequently causes bleeding initially so presumably stopping the hrt will stop the bleeding.

Not sure why I didn't get referred on to 2 week pathway

Why not ask- make another appt?

Bleeding while on HRT is common and as PP says a lot depends on the type, dose etc. Listed as common with continuous combined and can also happen with blips if on sequential.

What sort are you on?

Joining. Having a hysteroscopy on Tuesday. Scared stiff. It's bad enough having a smear, they can never get to my cervix, think it's tilted or something. I'm on combined continuous HRT and been getting spotting. Trying not to worry.

Take paracetamol before you go was what was suggested to me, I didn't need one in the end.

They've advised paracetemol so I'll do that. They can give me gas and air and a local anaesthetic, I've been told. I may take it all!

i am 53
2 years on combined HRT , patch and capsule every night
felt great ans no period
last month had a period
felt rubbish
on 2 week pathway
lining 8mm after scans so tried to take a biopsy but cervix closed so now got to have it under general anathesic
worries sick

@oshi2006 Try not to worry, it'll be ok. This is exactly what happened to me. When I had the hysteroscopy last November (while awake) they couldn't get fully through the neck of the womb. So I had to have it done under a GA last December. I was fine afterwards, however they still couldn't get through the neck of the womb so couldn't do it (stenosed cervix, it's called). I would have found it helpful if they had warned me beforehand that it still might not be possible to carry out the biopsy, etc.

The general anaesthetic was fine. I just felt tired and a bit weird afterwards and needed to live on the sofa for the rest of the day and had no appetite at all, which carried on the next day.

I went on to have a further US scan which showed the thickness of the lining had come down to 4mm, and then had an MRI scan. I've been given the all-clear and went back on HRT last week, as the hideous hot flushes (actually pouring with sweat day and night at frequent intervals with hideous anxiety and headaches) were showing no signs of easing off and were starting to really get me down

thank you
i have a fear that is what will happen to me as they want to do the procedure under GA. My GP and Consultant both said so stay on HRT for the time being. I feel fine just got period type symtpons again a month later !

Hope it's ok to jump in here. Great to read people's experiences and that people got the all clear. I'm 47, menopausal, no period for about 15 months. Was just about to start hrt and started bleeding two days ago. Seeing my GP on Thursday for an examination and then an ultrasound I believe? Trying not to worry but hard not to.

My last smear was abnormal but colposcopy all clear. I'm working if that gives extra reason to be concerned?

Try not to worry @Flounder2022 I know it's difficult not to think the worst, but you're probably fine. They always want to investigate any bleeding that's not quite "normal". I'm no expert but at your age maybe it's one last period?!