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Bleeding after 3 years of no periods

By Anonymous November 30, 2009 - 5:26pm
 
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I have not had a period for 3 years so I am post-menopausal. Suddenly November 2nd I had a bleeding that lasted for 8 days. Started with bloody streaks and progressed to dark bleeding that was as heavy as a normal period. I had an ultrasound and a transvaginal ultrasound that showed 2 cysts on my left ovary and an abnormal thickening of the lining in the uterus. The bleeding has started again as of November 29th. I am waiting for an appointment with an OB/GYN. I am thinking I have something pretty serious going on. My doctor doesn't seem to think this is anything to worry about but after losing my Stepdad in July/09 and my Dad was given 3 months to live as of October ... both due to cancer ... I can't help but wonder. Does anyone have some insight into my issues?

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EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

B
I'm 55 have not had a period for 3 years is this something to worry about

February 6, 2017 - 12:46pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

I am 54 and had the same thing happen I find it very weird after three years I did change my eating habits and become sexually active
Again lol wonder it it's hormones

April 2, 2017 - 6:46am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I haven't had a period for over 12 years but now I'm bleeding slightly just pale streaks beginning to worry a bit does anyone have advice

January 6, 2017 - 4:25am
Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hello Anonymous,

Call your gynecologist's office to schedule an appointment.

Twelve years without a period means you've completed menopause, and shouldn't have any menstrual bleeding. Even a little spotting is not normal after menopause.

Postmenopausal bleeding could be caused by a number of health problems, some of which are serious. Causes can include non-cancerous polys, thinning of the endometrium or thickening of the endometrium, and uterine cancer.

Please keep us updated,
Maryann

January 6, 2017 - 9:36am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I'm 50 haven't had a period in 12 months. All of a sudden I'm bleeding . :( it's been two days of very lite blood in the mornings. By afternoon it's gone. Can I still get pregnant? Thank you.

April 29, 2016 - 6:14am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Im about to be 26. I was diagnosed wirh POF at 17 and have not had a period since then. About 2 weeks ago i started cramping, by the next week i had vaginal discharge (white and clear). Two days ago i started to spot, and now am bleeding full on.. What could this mean? Its very nervewrecking bc my insurance goes out this month... Idk what to do or think or feel... Could it have naturally reversed or something more serious underlying?

April 25, 2016 - 8:05pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hi I'm 20 years old. I am 178 US pounds. I have been TTC for 2 years. I haven't had a period in 3 years and suddenly today I started spotting off and on. My breast are tender and I'm tired all the time without even trying. Could anyone share any knowledge on this please. My obgyn said I had a hormone imbalance and stated that pregnancy was highly unlikely but I really think I am. Just don't want to get my hopes up again

November 5, 2015 - 10:57pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Hi I'm 20 as well and mine is totally different then yours but I have not had my period for about 3 years and I got mine back and it's been coming on a regular bases for me that even includes the horrible cramps I use to get and i think it had a lot due to being depressed and stressed out for years but if so I don't wanna give up my hopes of being able to have children I've always dreamed of being a mom so I think it's due to being over weight and depressed and stressed to the point where my body refused to have a period , ya sure it's was nice not having a period but it sucks when you think you can't have children .

January 24, 2016 - 11:20am

Deb,

Thanks for your reply. OK, so we can eliminate any effect from HRT.

With that in mind, here's a really good page on post-menopausal bleeding from womentowomen.com:

http://www.womentowomen.com/menopause/postmenopausalbleeding.aspx

Some of the categories are:

From that site:

"Like so many symptoms that occur at this time of life, post-menopausal bleeding is often related to the same lifestyle issues that contribute to weight gain, emotional stress, and hormonal imbalance. Sudden spotting or bleeding that is benign is your body’s way of telling you to inventory the demands in your life and the support you are giving yourself."

And:

"Any time a woman has gone 12 successive months with no period and then bleeds again — no matter how slight or brief — the flow is considered to be post-menopausal bleeding. Up to 20–30% of menopausal women experience this.

"While it is far more common to experience post-menopausal bleeding due to shifting hormones, the less likely scenario is that abnormal cells are developing in the uterus. This can be a symptom of a minor abnormality like hyperplasia of the uterus, or of the more severe issue of uterine cancer. The good news is that all of these scenarios are highly treatable. But it is crucial for the woman whose situation needs more intervention to be identified as early as possible.

More often than not, proper evaluation of post-menopausal bleeding concludes there is nothing for the patient to worry about and no further intervention is needed. At Women to Women, we see benign post-menopausal bleeding result from the use of new or different HRT, nutrient deficiencies, drastic weight loss, extreme stress, or emotional trauma. But the only way to know for sure, and to rest easy, is to have a proper evaluation."

I'll skip the parts about HRT since they don't apply. But do go read more, since it talks about how nutritional deficiencies, weight loss or emotional stress can affect your levels of estrogen and cause this sort of reaction.

Here's some information about endometrial hyperplasia, and the possible grades:

http://www.womentowomen.com/menopause/uterinehyperplasia.aspx

Here's the Mayo Clinic's information on uterine polyps, in case that is part of the problem:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/uterine-polyps/DS00699/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis

And here's our page on ovarian cysts:

https://www.empowher.com/media/reference/ovarian-cyst#definition

And should you be diagnosed with uterine cancer, here's some information about it from the Mayo as well. Be sure to click on the links at the left that talk about symptoms, tests and diagnoses, and treatment and drugs:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/endometrial-cancer/DS00306

Many things mentioned here are benign, and everything mentioned here is treatable, especially at an early stage. But you are worried, and you shouldn't have to sit and wait and sit and wait for offices to talk to one another just to schedule your appointment! Please call the ob/gyn office and see if you can hurry them along. They are busy during this time of year because everyone's trying to get in on the last weeks of this year's insurance premiums, but you have an issue that is concerning you, and you're not going to be able to relax about it until you do. (I would not be above bribing the office with holiday cookies if I had to!)

Will you come back and update us?

December 2, 2009 - 10:15am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Diane Porter)

Thank you for your information, I am 46 and haven't had a period for more than 3 1/2 years. I have been spotting off and on for 3 weeks. My family has a history of endometriosis and ovarian cancer. I am waiting to hear from my OBGYN for an appointment, should I be concerned?

December 6, 2016 - 4:55pm
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