Bleeding after menopause: A concern?

Answer Section

Menopause marks the end of having periods and being able to get pregnant. You may reach menopause when you haven't had a period for 12 months.

Bleeding from the vagina after menopause is unusual. Get it checked by a health care provider as soon as you can. Or see a doctor who's had extra training to find and treat diseases of the female reproductive organs, called a gynecologist.

This type of bleeding is also called postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. It can be caused by:

• Cancer of the uterus, cervix or vagina.
• Thinning of the tissues that line the uterus or vagina.
• Uterine fibroids or uterine polyps, which are tissue growths in the uterus that aren't cancer.
• An infection of the uterine lining.
• Hormone therapy, tamoxifen or other medicines.
• Injury, sexual assault or abuse by a partner.
• Bleeding from nearby body parts, such as the urinary tract or rectum.
• Endometrial hyperplasia, when the lining of the uterus grows too much and becomes thick.

The cause of your bleeding may be harmless. Or it could be due to something serious. That's why it's important to see your gynecologist or other care provider for a check-up as soon as possible.