Menopausal women should not have a menstrual cycle, bleeding or spotting. But it is not uncommon for menopausal women to experience some spotting or bleeding at some point. Although bleeding in menopause is abnormal, it is usually treatable and causes no harm.
Identification
Once menopause begins, menstruation ends. Menopause usually begins when a woman is 45 to 55 and starts from the first day of a missed menstrual cycle, according to Medline Plus. While a woman is having her menstrual cycles, a gradual rise and fall of the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone take place every month. As a woman gets closer to menopause, the estrogen level gets lower, and the rise and decline of this hormone become sudden and unpredictable. This stage is called perimenopause, and it begins two to eight years before the onset of menopause. This is the only stage of menopause in which a woman will have a period.
Menopause Symptoms
To know whether the symptoms experienced are abnormal, it is best to know the actual symptoms of menopause. Some of the symptoms of menstruation are the same as the symptoms of menopause, which include heart pounding, heart palpitations, night flushes, skin flushing, insomnia, decreased sex drive, vaginal infection, joint aches and forgetfulness. Bleeding in the stage of menopause is considered abnormal.
Causes of Bleeding in Menopause
The hormonal changes that take place in menopause make it technically impossible for a women to menstruate. Blood levels of estrogen in menopause are too low to control the ovaries or the uterus. Causes of bleeding in menopause include uterine polyps and endometrial hyperplasia. Uterine polyps are benign growths that form on the endometrial wall. These polyps may cause spotting and slight abdominal pain but usually go unnoticed until a woman has an ultrasound or they are large enough to cause discomfort. Endometrial hyperplasia is a condition that's caused by the uterine lining becoming abnormally thick. In menopause, the lining is usually thin but may thicken in women who take estrogen supplements. According to Dr. Glenn Bradley of OBGYN.net, this is the most common cause of bleeding in menopause.
Considerations
Women who have any form of bleeding in menopause should see a physician promptly. The doctor will want to check hormone levels. He may do an ultrasound or other examinations to check the uterine and vaginal linings for any signs of abnormalities.
Warnings
Women experiencing any pain with bleeding or prolonged or heavy bleeding should seek medical attention immediately.
