Is Bleeding During Menopause Normal?
Menopause is broadly understood as the time a woman ceases to have her menstrual cycle and so there are significant concerns when there is bleeding during menopause. Women need to understand the whole process of hormonal and bodily changes to have clarity in assessing whether any bleeding during menopause is normal.
A woman is technically going through menopause during the year in which she stops having her monthly periods. A twelve month period in which a woman does not have her periods is indicative that she has gone through menopause and so after that she is post-menopause. This does not all happen in one smooth stretch for most women. There is a peri-menopause stage during which women start having irregular periods and so sometimes there may be bleeding after a gap of two or three months. This is part of the body getting geared for menopause and does not have to be a source of major concern. It is said that 51 is the average age for onset of menopause and so a woman in the 3-4 year range of that age may start noticing changed patterns of menstrual bleeding and there may be a gradual tapering off in the course of a couple of years.
Until the cycle completely stops some sporadic days of menstruation may happen. While the bleeding itself is not cause for concern at this stage, a woman should note the extent of bleeding. If there is need for frequent changes or if the bleeding continues for two weeks, there is reason to be concerned and to consult a specialist. Doctors also recommend that women who have had no bleeding for six months and then see significant discharge should consult a medical professional.
Women who are dealing with obesity, hypertension and diabetes and those with hereditary risk of ovarian cancer should be particularly vigilant in tracking the pattern of bleeding and should keep their doctors informed about major changes. The doctor may recommend an endometrial biopsy or a hysteroscopy to assess the problem. While the biopsy will help rule out cancer or pre-cancer, the hysteroscopy will allow the doctor to look in the uterus and check for fibroids and polyps also.
The cause of the bleeding will determine the treatment of the problem. If the bleeding is only a result of lack of ovulation, doctors are likely to use progesterone to deal with the issue. In some cases it makes sense to remove the uterus and in such cases, hysterectomy is recommended by the doctor. It is important to stay informed about the various options available and to discuss with your doctor the one best suited for your life stage and overall health. Even when opting for surgery, women should know that there is the choice to remove the fibroids and to leave the uterus intact. This can be done with a smaller incision by using a laparoscope. There are also options such as removing polyps or fibroid through the cervix and this can be done with a resectoscope. Sometimes a doctor may recommend an endometrial ablation as this will remove the lining of the uterus and prevent the reformation of polyps.
In summing up, a woman should know that bleeding during menopause is not necessarily a worrisome development. It is very much dependent on the exact stage in the menopause. Frequent or heavy bleeding is worth following up with a doctor especially in the case of women who are at risk for cancer. There are many options on how to deal with the bleeding and while hysterectomy is seen as the most obvious option there are other alternatives to consider. An experienced gynecologist will be able to help a woman form an informed decision about the best choices for physical and emotional health.