Vaginal bleeding after menopause is considered abnormal, according to HealthCentral.com, a website that empowers woman to improve and take control of their health and well-being. Vaginal bleeding after menopause occurs when irritated vaginal tissues become too thin and dry out. Bleeding after menopause can be the result of polyps, excessive growth of the uterine lining called endometrial hyperplasia, polyps or cancerous changes within the cervix, vagina or uterus. To be safe a health care professional should always check vaginal bleeding that occurs after menopause.
Polyps
Polyps can cause vaginal bleeding after menopause, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Polyps tend to be non-cancerous growths that consist of the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. These growths attach to the uterine wall and the endometrial surface causing irregular and heavy bleeding. In addition, polyps may grow on the cervix or in the cervical canal causing bleeding and irritation. These polyps can cause bleeding in post-menopausal women after sex.
Thinning of the Uterine Lining
Another cause of vaginal bleeding after menopause includes the thinning of the uterine lining or endometrium, according to the website UpToDate, the largest clinical community in the world dedicated to synthesizing knowledge for clinicians and patients. After menopause, a woman may experience uterine atrophy, a condition in which a woman's uterine lining becomes too thin and begins to die as a result of declining estrogen levels. As the woman's lining begins to thin, she will experience vaginal bleeding.
Endometrial Hyperplasia
According to UpToDate, a common cause of vaginal bleeding after menopause is endometrial hyperplasia. Endometrial hyperplasia is an abnormal thickening of the uterus. It can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding in post-menopausal women. In some cases, endometrial hyperplasia can cause changes in the uterine lining resulting in atypical hyperplasia, a condition that can lead to cancer of the uterus.
Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial cancer or uterine cancer can cause vaginal bleeding in post-menopausal women. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, endometrial cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer of the female reproductive system in the United States. The earliest sign of endometrial cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding after menopause. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library states that one out of three women with vaginal bleeding after menopause will receive a diagnosis of endometrial cancer. Post-menopausal women who have endometrial cancer may notice a watery, pink, red or white discharge that occurs for several weeks or months, followed by vaginal bleeding. Endometrial cancer may occur in families or in women who produce extremely high levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone. The excess of estrogen and the deficiency of progesterone cause abnormal cell changes in the uterus resulting in vaginal bleeding. Endometrial cancer proves highly curable when found at its earliest stage.
Infection of the Uterus
HealthCentral.com states that an infection of the uterus may cause vaginal bleeding in post-menopausal women. A post-menopausal woman may experience vaginal bleeding after sex, a pelvic exam or a pap smear due to her declining estrogen and thinning uterine lining. Sexual activity or vaginal exams may tear the thin uterine lining causing vaginal spotting and/or bleeding.
Medications
Medications used to treat hormonal imbalances in post-menopausal women may cause vaginal bleeding, according to Women to Women, a website founded by Marcelle Pick, M.D. and devoted to providing health care to women by women. Post-menopausal women who take hormone therapy that consists of a combination of estrogen and progesterone may notice some unusual vaginal bleeding during the first few months of therapy. In addition, some post-menopausal women who take a cyclic hormone regimen consisting of oral estrogen and a progestin may experience some light vaginal bleeding that resembles a period a few days a month.
References
- HealthCentral.com: Bleeding After Menopause
- UpToDate: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Cancer of the Uterus (Endometrial Cancer)
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Endometrial Cancer
