Menopause

What is Menopause?

Menopause is typically identified in females over 45 who have actually not had a duration for more than a year. Any bleeding from the vaginal area after this time requires to be examined by a GP.

Non- immediate suggestions: See a GP if you have postmenopausal bleeding, even if:

• it’s just occurred as soon as
• there’s just a percentage of blood, identifying, or pink or brown discharge
• you do not have any other signs
• you’re not exactly sure if it’s blood

Postmenopausal bleeding is not typically severe, however can be an indication of cancer. Cancer is simpler to deal with if it’s discovered early.

What occurs at your GP visit

The GP ought to refer you to medical facility or an unique postmenopausal bleeding center. You ought to not need to wait more than 2 weeks to see an expert.

What occurs at your medical facility or center visit

A professional, who might be a nurse, will use you tests to assist discover what’s triggering the bleeding and prepare any needed treatment.

The tests might consist of:.

• a little gadget being positioned in your vaginal area to scan for any issues (vaginal ultrasound scan)
• an assessment of your hips and vaginal area– a speculum (plastic gadget) might be placed into your vaginal area to hold it open, so the within the vaginal area and the cervix can be seen
• a thin, telescope-like electronic camera being missed your vaginal area, through the cervix and into your womb to search for any issues (a hysteroscopy) and to take a tissue sample (biopsy) for screening– under regional or basic anaesthetic
• the professional might continue your belly and inside your vaginal area to look for swellings, inflammation or other problems

Causes of postmenopausal bleeding

Postmenopausal bleeding can be caused by a variety of factors.

The most typical causes are:.

• Postmenopausal bleeding can be caused by a variety of factors.
• Swelling and thinning of the vaginal lining (atrophic vaginitis) or womb lining (endometrial atrophy)– caused by low oestrogen levels.
• Polyps in the cervix or womb– these are non-cancerous growths.
• endometrial hyperplasia (thickened womb lining)– this can be caused by hormone replacement therapy (HRT), high levels of oestrogen, or obesity, and can lead to womb cancer.

Less frequently, postmenopausal bleeding is triggered by cancer, such as ovarian and womb cancer.

Treatment for postmenopausal bleeding

Treatment depends upon what’s triggering your bleeding.

Treatment for postmenopausal bleeding
Cause	Treatment
Cervical polyps	the polyps might require to be gotten rid of by an expert
Endometrial atrophy	you might not require treatment, however might be provided oestrogen cream or pessaries
Endometrial hyperplasia	depending upon the kind of hyperplasia, you might be provided no treatment, hormonal agent medication (tablets or an intrauterine system, IUS) or an overall hysterectomy ( surgical treatment to eliminate your uterus, cervix and ovaries)
Side impact of HRT	altering or stopping HRT treatment
Womb cancer	overall hysterectomy will frequently be suggested
Ovarian cancer	surgical treatment to eliminate your ovaries and your womb (overall hysterectomy)