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Original poster

Anyone else had unexplained vaginal bleeding?

31 replies

DragonbornMum · 18/04/2023 09:17

I'm 31, and my period ended ended a week ago. Yesterday I woke up and I was bleeding again! It's not terribly heavy, but it's consistent with no clots. Mild cramps and headache - just like a really light period, really.

GP fobbed me off because it's a 1 off due to my age - I was ready to insist on actually being seen and examed, but she said because I'm actively bleeding they wouldn't be able to see anything in an exam. Going to try again next week.

Has anyone else had this and what did it turn out to be? I had a smear last year and all normal.

OP posts:
Popskipiekin · 18/04/2023 09:28

See if you can push for a referral to gynae for colposcopy (and / or another appropriate procedure!). I had random bleeding after my first pregnancy (long after my periods had returned) as well as bleeding after sex. Colposcopy turned up something minor & treatable. Gynaecologist admired my cervix, which was odd, and said he would never had known I’d had a baby … 🤔anyway. Hope you have more success with GP next week.

Original poster
DragonbornMum · 18/04/2023 09:34

Popskipiekin · 18/04/2023 09:28

See if you can push for a referral to gynae for colposcopy (and / or another appropriate procedure!). I had random bleeding after my first pregnancy (long after my periods had returned) as well as bleeding after sex. Colposcopy turned up something minor & treatable. Gynaecologist admired my cervix, which was odd, and said he would never had known I’d had a baby … 🤔anyway. Hope you have more success with GP next week.

Congratulations on your wonderful cervix! 😂😂 Thanks for replying; that's reassuring that your problem was sorted easily enough. Obviously google has been telling me it could be cancer!

OP posts:
noimaginationforausername · 18/04/2023 09:43

At your age I would definitely want any unexplained bleeding investigated, at my age I'd probably let it go a bit longer as I could put it down to peri menopause.

In my late 20's early 30's I had irregular bleeding by and it turned out to be a cervical erosion which just needed cauterising, wasn't painful at all. It's about always bad news most of the time it's something easily treatable.

Original poster
DragonbornMum · 18/04/2023 11:14

noimaginationforausername · 18/04/2023 09:43

At your age I would definitely want any unexplained bleeding investigated, at my age I'd probably let it go a bit longer as I could put it down to peri menopause.

In my late 20's early 30's I had irregular bleeding by and it turned out to be a cervical erosion which just needed cauterising, wasn't painful at all. It's about always bad news most of the time it's something easily treatable.

Ah, thank you, that sounds like a very treatable thing! Fingers crossed it is something minor

OP posts:
Summerscomin · 18/04/2023 18:49

I'm about the same age as you OP and experiencing similar. I had an abnormal smear last year, colposcopy showed changes that should resolve themselves. Symptoms persisted and I went back to GP who have made urgent referral for a follow up colposcopy. Please don't be fobbed off- go in with your assertive head on. I know the NHS is stretched but we must advocate for ourselves.

Original poster
DragonbornMum · 18/04/2023 20:57

Summerscomin · 18/04/2023 18:49

I'm about the same age as you OP and experiencing similar. I had an abnormal smear last year, colposcopy showed changes that should resolve themselves. Symptoms persisted and I went back to GP who have made urgent referral for a follow up colposcopy. Please don't be fobbed off- go in with your assertive head on. I know the NHS is stretched but we must advocate for ourselves.

Thank you - yes, I have every intention of persevering once the bleeding stops. This is what the NHS is for - not fixing splinters in A&E!!! Hope you get sorted with your issues 💐

OP posts:
Summerscomin · 19/04/2023 08:34

Thank you @DragonbornMum hopefully it's something and nothing- my gut feeling is ectropian- but I'm not an expert. The intermittent bleeding is uncomfortable and inconvenient as well! There was definitely a vibe of "we don't think it's cancer so be grateful for that and put up with it" last time I went but as PP said a simple cauterisation would fix an ectropian.
I was referred last Friday and I'm in for colposcopy today, so we'll see what they say.
Glad to hear you're ready to push for it when the bleeding calms down, sorry if I sounded bossy before BlushFlowers

Harebrain · 19/04/2023 08:36

Mine was a polyp…..and since then, I’ve had another few over the years. All have been fine but I’m currently awaiting an appointment this weekend to have another one removed. I seem to grow crops of them!

Original poster
DragonbornMum · 19/04/2023 12:15

Harebrain · 19/04/2023 08:36

Mine was a polyp…..and since then, I’ve had another few over the years. All have been fine but I’m currently awaiting an appointment this weekend to have another one removed. I seem to grow crops of them!

Oh, how vexing that they keep coming back! Still, at least it's something that's easily dealt with. Thanks for the reply - I'm starting to be hopeful that my thing is similarly innocuous. I'm now on day 3 of bleeding and it's doing nothing but getting heavier! 😩

OP posts:
Harebrain · 19/04/2023 14:02

It’s been reassuring that they’ve all been absolutely fine. Hope the bleeding stops for you soon.

Summerscomin · 19/04/2023 19:28

So I had my appt and it wasn't an ectropian as I suspected. I've had biopsies taken and should hear in two weeks..
I didn't realise they couldn't do anything when you were bleeding - surely at the examination they'd be able to see where the blood was coming from?

Original poster
DragonbornMum · 19/04/2023 20:00

Summerscomin · 19/04/2023 19:28

So I had my appt and it wasn't an ectropian as I suspected. I've had biopsies taken and should hear in two weeks..
I didn't realise they couldn't do anything when you were bleeding - surely at the examination they'd be able to see where the blood was coming from?

Fingers crossed for you that it's something manageable!!

Apparently the blood would obscure anyone's view 🙄 It was heavier this morning but has gotten lighter as the day went on. Hoping it stops in a day or two

OP posts:
ImBrian · 25/04/2023 22:00

I have for a couple of years after sex since I had a lletz procedure done. I’ve been back seen a gyny and they said nothing was wrong. Two years later I now bleed quite heavily after sex but only the week before my period. They won’t do a smear as it’s not time yet, cervix doesn’t have any erosion and I’m waiting for another referral to gynaecology/colposcopy to see why it’s happening. I had no issues till I had the lletz done but they claim that can’t be to blame.

Summerscomin · 07/05/2023 10:50

Did you get any further @DragonbornMum?
I haven't heard anything yet- I'd like to say "no news is good news" but I'm not sure that washes with the current NHS.
It's still happening for me, no particular pattern any more either just random bouts of heavy bleeding.

Original poster
DragonbornMum · 07/05/2023 11:09

Summerscomin · 07/05/2023 10:50

Did you get any further @DragonbornMum?
I haven't heard anything yet- I'd like to say "no news is good news" but I'm not sure that washes with the current NHS.
It's still happening for me, no particular pattern any more either just random bouts of heavy bleeding.

Well maybe! Still couldn't actually SEE a doctor, but she did send me for a blood test because I mentioned my iron levels were low (due to, y'know, losing all that blood. Chronic anaemia so I know how it feels to have low iron). The results came in and I got a text Friday at 4:30, but obviously no one at the GP would answer the phone! So I'm stuck having to wait until Tuesday to find out more.

My bleeding lasted 5 days in the end, so definitely not implantation bleeding as it was way too heavy and way too soon. But I am also 3 days late, so got that to think about as well...

How are you doing @Summerscomin ?

OP posts:
BonnieBobbin · 07/05/2023 11:13

The last time I had unexplained bleeding, I had Covid. It was bizarre. I started bleeding and tested positive on the same day. We didn't manage to work out if it was a coincidence or connected.

Summerscomin · 07/05/2023 15:19

That's not very helpful is it @DragonbornMum to just leave it over the weekend. Other than the bloods have you had any sort of referral/appointment to see what caused it in the first place?
I'm worried, to be honest. I know it isn't normal and there's no way of knowing when it will happen or why it is happening. Just when I put it out of mind it happens again. The waiting for results isn't pleasant either- I'm not sure if I'll even be relieved if they don't find anything because I'll be no closer to an answer!
@BonnieBobbin I've heard others have similar- and the vaccine interfering with cycles- but this has been going on a while for me unfortunately!

Original poster
DragonbornMum · 07/05/2023 15:32

@Summerscomin argh, I'm really hoping all the bank holidays lately are just causing backlogs, and we'll hear something next week!

No, no referrals or anything. No exam. I'm not convinced she was even going to do the blood test until I mentioned iron 🤦‍♀️ We'll see what happens this week!

OP posts:
Bex4567 · 07/05/2023 16:17

Hi can I ask your advise im going through the same thing...had sex with my partner 3 days before my period was due and had red blood was hoping it was my period..bleeding xontinued as normal so put it down to my period...yesturday had brownish blood so thought ny period was coming to an end..has sex yest evening and then bright red blood again..im going out of my mind with worry this has never happened tk me before...I had a letz 4 months ago and go back in July for my test of cure im worried things have ckme back 😭

sausagepastapot · 07/05/2023 16:23

Yes, I do; I have ectropion and HPV. Had a scan, and my bits are all and I quote, 'unremarkable'. No big deal, just another thing women have to grin and bear.

Insideallday · 07/05/2023 16:24

Are you up to date with smears etc? You should get a colposcopy.

Mine was endometriosis.

Strange your GP said they can’t do anything while bleeding! I’d question that.

Insideallday · 07/05/2023 16:37

As woman we’re told to get any irregular bleeding checked out and you’re been fobbed off.

Summerscomin · 07/05/2023 17:17

I agree that it's easy to be fobbed off- I've definitely changed my approach to be a "squeaky wheel" and won't just let it go. Am under gyna at the moment and hoping @DragonbornMum is soon referred.
@sausagepastapot interesting that you've linked it to HPV- this came up on my last smear and I've never shown to have it before, I didn't know it was linked to bleeding though? I wasn't offered any treatment, told it would sort itself out.

Original poster
DragonbornMum · 07/05/2023 17:32

Insideallday · 07/05/2023 16:37

As woman we’re told to get any irregular bleeding checked out and you’re been fobbed off.

Ikr!!! It's literally "get this checked by your GP", and then 100% of the time the GP says "it's probably fine".

OP posts:
Natsku · 07/05/2023 17:42

When I had bleeding between my periods it was an ovarian cyst. They examined me despite the bleeding, and then did an ultrasound.

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