Am I post menopausal? Menopausal?

[FastnetLundyRockall]

Im 51 and my last period was New Years Eve 2021, until tonight! I thought I was done and dusted and post menopausal now, but am I? Have I gone back to menopausal after 13 months?

Lots of websites advise that any bleeding after a year should be checked out by a doctor, but just wondering if this is actually really necessary - or if i should just start the menopause countdown all over again, especially given the impossibility of getting an appointment!

TBH you are literally days over the 12 months so I'd wait and see what happens next. The 12 months is a line in the sand, but bodies aren't so simple.

Hvae you recently had covid or vaccination for it? That brought back periods in 2 of my friends who were menopausal.

No its been a few months since last covid jab. The only that I've been doing differently is dry January and more exercise!

Thanks, good point

The likelihood of it being anything sinister is low, but you really should contact your gp, just to be on the safe side. All post menopausal bleeding needs to be investigated. Do not be surprised if your doctor refers you to the hospital on the two week pathway. This is part of the NICE recommendations. This is sometimes called the cancer pathway, but it does not mean you have cancer! The majority of women who are referred have nothing wrong with them and if you ask about, it’s amazing how many women have been referred, sometimes 2-3 times.
Try not to worry, but get it checked out. I went through this last year. I didn’t even see my gp, just had a telephone consultation and he referred me after that.
Good luck!

You are/were post menopausal, so any bleeding needs investigation. Please see your Gp.

You are post menopausal. Any post meno bleeding need's investigation.

You should get it checked out. You are pretty much post menopausal if you're 51 and haven't had a period for a year so bleeding needs to be checked.

I'd be the first to tell anyone to see a dr about post meno bleeding BUT the OP has had some bleeding with hormonal signs (literally) days after the 12-month guidance.

New Year 2022, and now 22 Jan this year.

I honestly don't think this would be considered post menopausal

Post meno bleeding is when it's months or years later, and then the concern is endometrial cancer.

Having what appeared to be a period 3 weeks after the 12 months is not usually considered post meno especially at 51. (the average age of meno is 51-52.)

But don't let my opinion put you off talking to your GP @FastnetLundyRockall

@JinglingSpringbells . Yes, it is very unlikely to be anything, but there is always the chance that there could be something wrong. I had my one and only bleed 13 1/2 months after my last period at the age of 53. I nearly didn’t bother contacting my gp just because it was so close to the 12 month mark. In the end I did contact him because it went on for over a week. Unfortunately, for me, it was something. I don’t want to worry the OP or anyone else, but id still recommend contacting the gp. It will then be on the OP’s medical record even if no further investigation is recommended at this stage.