Spotting After Menopause

Menopause doesn't deliver exactly the same experience for every woman. The symptoms involved and their severity can greatly differ from one woman to the next. With this in mind, it's no wonder so many questions tend to arise when this perfectly natural phase of life arrives. Whether menopause is brought on by the normal aging process or its arrival is abrupt due to surgery, spotting after menopause can be a signal of other potential problems.

If spotting "after menopause" occurs, it's a very good idea for a woman to relax and breathe. It's not a bad idea to be 100 percent certain menopause has actually arrived. Clinically, menopause has taken place if a passage of six months has occurred without a menstrual cycle. If this is the case, breakthrough bleeding or spotting after menopause should be examined further in most cases.

Spotting itself is not a full menstrual period. Instead it involves the appearance of a few drops of blood. They will either be darkish brown or red in color. A heavy flow will not be present. Either way, however, the appearance of blood after true menopause has taken place can be a signal of a greater problem.

The reasons that spotting after menopause tends to raise at least a red flag or two are many. Although this can be a perfectly natural occurrence, it can also signal some other more serious medical problems. Considering this, it is generally recommended that at least a phone call be placed to a physician's office if spotting after menopause is an issue. Self-diagnosing the cause is typically not the best idea for a number of reasons. The truth is self-diagnosis can lead to a misdiagnosis and leave serious illness on the table, unchecked.

There are many potential causes for spotting after menopause. Some are much more serious than others. They include:

·Normal menopausal estrogen reductions – While the lack of estrogen helps create the cessation of the menstrual cycle, it can also cause spotting after menopause. When estrogen levels are very low, the uterine lining is prone to atrophy. This means the blood vessels inside can become quite weak and subject to breaking spontaneously. This will result in spotting in some cases.

·Menopausal treatments – Hormone replacement therapy is known for causing spotting after menopause and even all out full menstrual cycles. If the body receives too much estrogen, the uterus can react and thicken. This can result in an actual "period" or spotting.

·Fibroids – Non-cancerous fibroids and polyps can also break and cause spotting. These might require removal, so it's not a bad idea to find out if these benign growths are really the cause of the spotting after menopause rather than just assuming they are. Pain may also be associated with the formation of fibroids and polyps in some cases.

·Cancer – Cancers, such as uterine, can sometimes be the root cause of bleeding and spotting after menopause. If this is suspected, medical attention should be sought.

If spotting after menopause occurs, it is generally recommended that women contact their physicians. Unless the cause is obvious, tests will likely be done to rule out any of the more nefarious causes for the spotting. Actual treatments will vary depending on the real cause for the spotting.

Spotting after menopause is not uncommon, but it can be a cause for concern. Everything from hormonal changes to actual uterine cancer can be at the root of the problem. Seeking medical advice is generally the wisest route to go. Knowing for certain the real cause of the spotting is the best way to gain peace of mind. Plus, if something more serious is the cause, it can lead to proper treatment.