One small stain after two years without a period.
It stops. You may be tempted to ignore it.
Please do not wait for it to happen again.
Any vaginal bleeding that occurs after 12 months without a natural period is called bleeding after menopause. It should be assessed even when it is only spotting, pink or brown discharge, or a single episode after sex.
The cause may be dryness and thinning of the vaginal tissues after menopause. It may also be a polyp, a reaction to hormone treatment or a change in the lining of the womb. Less commonly, it may be cancer.
Most women assessed for bleeding after menopause do not have cancer. But there is no safe way to know the cause without being checked.
Your assessment may include an examination, an internal ultrasound or a small sample from the lining of the womb. What happens next will depend on what is found.
Today brings our Women’s Health Month series to an end. My hope is that this month has made it easier to listen to your body and seek care without shame or delay.
Thank you for reading and sharing these posts with the women you care about.
