1. Understanding Premenopausal Bleeding
If you are premenopausal and notice light spotting before your cycle begins, chances are this kind of vaginal bleeding is harmless. In fact, enough women experience vaginal bleeding before their period so this occurrence is actually considered common.
2. Experiencing Bleeding While Taking Hormone Replacement Therapy
According to Andrew Good, M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist at the Mayo Clinic, many women who are in their menopausal or postmenopausal years and are on cyclic hormone replacement therapy experience withdrawal bleeding. A cyclic kind of hormone replacement therapy includes taking daily oral estrogen and oral progestin for 10 to 12 days a month. This kind of bleeding is similar to having a period every few days out of the month. But if you suspect that your bleeding is in excess of the normal occurrence of withdrawal bleeding, you should contact your doctor.
Women who are menopausal or postmenopausal and are taking combined hormone replacement therapy may also experience occasional spotting in the first six months of their treatment. Combined hormone replacement therapy involves taking a low dose of estrogen and progestin daily. Dr. Good encourages seeing a doctor if the bleeding lasts longer than these initial six months or if there is heavy bleeding.
3. Noticing Bleeding Without Taking Hormone Replacement Therapy
Women who are menopausal or postmenopausal and are not taking any sort of hormone replacement therapies should contact their doctor if they have vaginal bleeding. Also, is is wise to keep a record of the bleeding in regards to its frequency and degree of light or heaviness.
4. Know the Conditions Associated With Irregular Vaginal Bleeding
There are a variety of gynecologic conditions that are associated with vaginal bleeding. Possible indications are infection, cancer of the uterus, cervix, vulva or vagina, cervical conditions, sexually-transmitted diseases, injury, irregular hormone levels, or polyps or tumors on the female reproductive organs.
5. Learn About Your Risk for Cancer
Since cancer risk increases with age, postmenopausal women who experience irregular vaginal bleeding should speak to their doctor. Even though the bleeding may turn out to be benign, in some cases, vaginal bleeding in postmenopausal is associated with cancer of the cervix, uterine or vagina. If you are concerned about these three particular types of cancers, talk to your doctor about the risk factors associated with each.
