Menopause Spotting: What’s Really Going On?
Just when you thought it was over, menopause spotting rears its odd and ugly head. For many women, the idea of menopause brings mixed emotions. On one hand, entering into the “change of life” can bring feelings of discouragement and depression as this time period is a significant milestone indicating that age is not just a state of mind. On the other hand, many women embrace the onset of menopause and look forward to leaving the hassles of reproduction behind.
Strangely, though, many women who have undergone or are currently in the throes of menopause have found or find that a perceived benefit of an end to monthly menstrual cycles isn’t quite true. Although heavy blood flow is not common, light vaginal spotting is. Menopause spotting can be disconcerting if unexpected, so here are some things to know about the situation.
WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?
Typically beginning in a woman’s early 50’s and sometimes as early as the mid 20’s, menopause is a time when female bodies undergo an enormous change. During this period in a woman’s life, ovaries cease to produce feminine estrogen hormones and she may show one or all of the following signs indicating reproductive cessation has begun:
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
- Sleep difficulty
- Mood swings
- Irregularity in menstrual cycles
WHY DOES MENOPAUSE SPOTTING OCCUR?
Like everything else in a woman’s life, menopause is an individual experience. Once the change has been recognized and diagnosed, many females have reported that menstrual cycles are no longer an issue and that no spotting is present. For other women, menopause is simply a slow and progressive transformation.
As menopause is a process, immediate discontinuance of estrogen is not likely. Because of this, a woman may notice that her period is lessened in both length of time and volume over a period of years and that even after long droughts, minor bouts of spotting can occur. When ovaries fully discontinue estrogen production, spotting typically ends also.
SHOULD YOU WORRY?
In most cases, menopause spotting is completely normal and not an event to be concerned about. However, there are some situations in which bleeding may represent other health issues. Consult with your gynecologist if you have:
- Stopped menstruating completely for longer than 6 months and experience spotting
- Have excessive bleeding that will not stop
- A personal or family history of vaginal conditions that include fibroids, cancer, or repeated infection
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Obesity issues
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT MENOPAUSE SPOTTING?
Depending on the underlying cause, there are treatment options available for bleeding during the change of life. For most cases, the issue is normal and will resolve itself in a matter of time. For other situations where more serious problems are to blame for spotting, the following procedures may be suggested by a gynecologist:
- Progesterone therapy
- Removal of irregularities like fibroids and cysts
- Removal of uterine lining
- Complete removal of the uterus
GETTING THROUGH MENOPAUSE
For a lucky few, menopause brings with it no significant source of life altering side effects. Many may experience mild changes in mood, slight hot flashes, and an immediate end to menstruation. For the rest of women, menopause can be a difficult time both mentally and physically. As hormones change and the female mind adapts to the reality of aging, there are several things she can do to alleviate the distress associated with the condition.
- Get a support group: Family and friends are an invaluable resource during this time in life. Sharing the experience with others can help to lessen feelings of isolation, worthlessness, and anxiety.
- Your doctor can help: There are many therapies available to today’s woman that allows her to go through menopause with a limited amount of side effects.
- Take time for yourself: At this important milestone, take time to reflect on all that you have accomplished and look towards the future. Take a break and pamper yourself. You have worked hard to get to this stage in life and now is the time to enjoy life without the worry and irritation caused by a period.