Menopause is a natural process that every woman will experience. One of the conditions that can complicate the menopause process, which means the interruption of menstruation in Latin, is postmenopausal bleeding. A woman is considered menopausal after one year has passed since her last menstrual period, and we call the bleeding that occurs after this period as postmenopausal (post-menopausal) bleeding.

 

First of all, it is necessary to understand where the bleeding originates from, that sometimes bleeding originates from areas outside the vagina. Vaginal bleeding also has many causes. One of the most common causes is bleeding, which develops due to hormonal failure and is due to thinning of the tissues called atrophy.

 

Another reason is bleeding due to hormonal drugs used. Benign formations such as polyps and fibroids originating from the uterus, cervical polyps, erosions and infections of the vagina and cervix are other benign causes that can lead to bleeding. However, with a minority of causes, uterine and cervical cancers, hormone-secreting ovarian cancers; It is one of the conditions that should be excluded in postmenopausal bleeding.

 

Bleeding after menopause is considered uterine cancer until proven otherwise, and biopsy is required to prove otherwise. But only 5 to 10 percent of postmenopausal bleeding is uterine cancer. While 95 percent of uterine cancers are seen at the age of 45 and above (average 60 years), it is rarely seen in women under the age of 40. Women should consult a doctor for any bleeding that occurs during menopause.

 

Abnormal, irregular and severe bleeding, which can also be seen in non-menopausal women, should also be taken into account. Obesity, family history of colon and uterine cancer, early menstruation, late menopause, never having given birth, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and diabetes are risk factors for uterine cancer. For this reason, it is recommended that women with risk factors should have regular check-ups first, but all postmenopausal women. However, in case of problematic bleeding, they should consult a gynecologist and obstetrician as soon as possible.