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[Mucha]

Hi everyone. Just a bit of background. My last period was April 2020 and I was put on HRT October 2021: Utrogestan and Estrogel every day.

After a couple of months I started getting erratic bleeding which lasted pretty much all of 2022. It was every month for a week up to ten days each time then it stopped for three months but came back again in late December.

My doctor thought it was stress related as my marriage really hit the rocks last year and my husband actually left me at Christmas.

My GP also said I have vaginal atrophy. I had a swab test and ultrasound last year and both were clear.

Anyway, I  had a smear test on Wednesday (very painful) and that night was losing brown discharge and then the bleeding started right back up again and is still happening today.

I now have a new doctor as mine retired and the new one wants me to have a camera procedure to check the lining of my womb to rule out anything. I am so worried right now, especially since she told me an ultrasound doesn’t find everything 😕 she also thinks I went on HRT too soon so the bleeding could also be to do with that.

Has anyone else had post menopausal bleeding from stress? And bleeding after a smear?

[Flossieteacake]

Hello Mucha. I am so sorry to hear about your husband leaving you. That is bound to have caused a lot of stress. When your GP said you have vaginal atrophy, did they prescribe anything for you? It needs to be treated with localised oestrogen such as Vagifem which is a pessary or Ovestin which is a cream.

It is such a shame when a nice Dr leaves. I do not agree with the new Dr saying you went on HRT too soon and I have never heard of that causing bleeding anyway. We will all need to take HRT at different times. Some take it in peri and you seem to have taken it post meno as it was a whole year after your last period.

I know stress can do all sorts of things to the body. For example, when I am stressed by vaginal atrophy symptoms become worse.

I can understand why you feel worried as it sounds like this new Dr was not very reassuring or knowledgeable. I know many women have a scan after bleeding just to check the thickness of the womb lining.

[CLKD]

Hi!     Upheaval can cause all kinds of hormonal ups and downs  .  Browse round.  Make notes.  Why did you decide to use HRT, any particular symptom that needed easing?

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use to chart progress.    Do read the 'bladder issues' and vaginal atrophy threads.  As oestrogen levels drop so the body may become dry: inside and out; skin, scalp, deep in the ears, nostrils, eyes, vagina .........

Let us know how you get on.  Hopefully now that your husband has left your stress levels will drop.  Sadly some find that relationships deteriorate during peri-menopause .   

[Ayesha]

Your GP is doing the right thing by referring you as the blood loss is probably not down to stress but is common with women who are on systemic HRT, you just have to read the many posts on here to realise that, it really is very common so don't worry!

If you have not been offered Vaginal Atrophy treatment yet your GP is more than likely waiting for the results of your scan. In the meantime Yes or Sylk moisturisers are very good at helping with dryness, hopefully you won't have to wait too long to start your VA treatment. 

[sammy828]

Sorry you are suffering these symptoms and the anxiety that naturally comes with it.  Yes, I had brown discharge from a smear, it is fairly common especially if the doctor is making sure they get enough cells to evaluate.  Did you say you started bleeding right away when you started HRT?  If that is so, the bleeding is not as likely from a frightening condition, but more likely due to hormonal adjustment.  I hope your scan goes well and comes back clear.