After menopause, most women don’t experience any further bleeding. While irregular bleeding is often associated with perimenopause, or the period leading up to menopause, women who experience bleeding thereafter should always contact their gynecologist. If you’ve experienced postmenopausal bleeding, the following guide will explain what to know about potential causes and treatments.

Why Does Abnormal Bleeding Occur?

Often, irregular bleeding means women are still in the perimenopause stage. Other times, heavy or abnormal bleeding may signal the presence of polyps or noncancerous growths in the uterus, endometrial surface, or cervical canal, the latter of which can cause post-coital bleeding.

Abnormal bleeding may also occur due to endometrial atrophy, which occurs when the endometrium thins due to decreased estrogen levels. Since estrogen levels drop after menopause, this is particularly common among postmenopausal women.

Endometrial hyperplasia, or uterine thickening, a condition caused by excessive estrogen and low progesterone, may also lead to frequent bleeding. Since endometrial hyperplasia is associated with uterine cancer, it’s important to visit a medical professional as soon as possible.

How Can a Gynecologist Help?

If you’re a postmenopausal woman who has experienced bleeding, always contact your gynecologist for a thorough diagnosis. Based on your unique diagnosis, the gynecologist will provide specific treatments to help combat the condition. For instance, polyps may occasionally require surgical intervention, while endometrial hyperplasia can be treated with progestin therapy. The doctor will also monitor the condition down the road to ensure optimal health and wellness.  

If you’ve experienced postmenopausal bleeding, talk to Anchorage, Alaska’s trusted gynecologists. Dr. Donna Chester, MD, FACOG, and Dr. Dolly Lefever, CNM, FNP, APRN from Caring For Women want to help you attain the high quality, reliable medical treatments and support you deserve. For over two decades, the family-oriented team has provided locals the women’s health services they need to live well. To learn more about the women’s health clinic, visit the local team online or call today at (907) 279-2229.