Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: Popmummy on August 21, 2024, 04:05:33 PM
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Hello
I’m after some reassurance. I know that no one can tell me what’s causing it and that I need to see doc, but I am on holiday in Majorca and just freaking out.
I am 55 and use 2 pumps of gel and have been since Spring 2022 when I hadn’t had a period for a few months. I take Utrogestan along with it. However after reading about risks I ended up trying Utrogestan less frequently as I read 3 monthly can be ok, so decided to take it vaginally 200mg every 3 months. I know I have been stupid for not taking it as prescribed and I did mention it to my doc (she seemed ok) in passing.
Yesterday my hubby and I had sex. This is the first time for many weeks and as soon as we finished I saw I was bleeding. At first I thought maybe it was just the entrance but after checking it out it was definitely coming from higher up (I think from cervix). Today I have been checking again and found blood still. I have had no bleeding whatsoever before this (sex is pretty sporadic).
I had a normal smear in Summer 2021.
I feel that I have brought on possible uterine cancer for being so silly and not taking my Utrogestan properly. We aren’t due back until next week and I can see this ruining our holiday. I have health anxiety so that’s not helping. I have obviously googled and know that bleeding after menopause or sex can be from a number of causes, but all I can think is that it’ll be cancer because I didn’t following prescription.
If anyone can help calm me until I see my doctor I would so appreciate it.
Sarah X
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Stop. Freaking. Out. and enjoy your holiday!!!!
Any kind of cancer that presents with vaginal bleeding ie cervical or endometrial, develops over many years.
Statistically this is very unlikely to be anything sinister.
A normal smear 3 years ago virtually excludes cervical.
And endometrial typically presents with chronic irregular bleeding not postcoital bleeding.
It is most likely either vaginal atrophy or simply that you've built up a bit of a lining from taking less frequent progesterone, and now need to shed it.
Just restart the continuous progesterone as of now, and make an appointment with your GP when you get home.
They should send you for a reassurance scan but there's a clear reason for this and nothing to suggest anything to worry about.
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I agree with bombsh3II
I had a polyp which would bleed on contact, it went in peri menopause.
When the hormone levels drop the vaginal walls may become thin = bleeding. Stop POKING! Enjoy your break. Get plenty of lubrication up there B4 being intimate which will ease any potential problems.
We have a holiday thread here ;-)
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Thank you Bomb for replying so quickly. You’ve made me cry with your kind and rational words. I was just hoping that it was a bit of an issue because we’d not had sex in a while and it was ‘a quicky’ because our 15 year old daughter was in the other room!!!!
However because it’s carried on a little bit today it’s not helped and I’ve also now started to link my low back pain,which I’ve had on and off for ages, and after reading about advanced ec my mind has gone into the worst case scenarios.
Thanks again though. I will keep reading your reply until I can get home and see my doc.
Sarah x
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Thank you too CLKD. Just for taking the time to offer some rational words to me xxx
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Worry isn't rational ...... logic flies out the window!
Where R U staying ? ;-). not that I'm nosey or anything ::)
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We are in Puerto Pollensa. Our first holiday abroad since 2018 when we were last here. Trying hard to act normal but feeling every twinge etc blah
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It could be that the friction has caused you to bleed, as at our age we are thinner inside now, and as it was a 'quicky' you may not have been lubricated enough (and as we get older we have less lubrication anyway).
According to the nhs, most of the time bleeding after sex is not serious.
Try not to worry and enjoy your holiday x
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Enjoy your time away 8)
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Thank you again for your help. I am still very anxious. Had faint spotting this morning and not seen anything aince but every time I go the loo I panic that I will see more blood. Part of me can believe that maybe if I don’t have anymore bleeding it was caused by sec and delicate tissue, but if I bleed again I won’t be able to rely on that excuse. Although Bomb did mention that because I’ve not been taking my Utrogestan, it could be the cause.
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When did you last take the utrogestan? The sudden drop is what causes the bleed on cyclical hrt. My bleed used to come 2-3 days after stopping each month.
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It was around two and a half months. As I said in my post, I stupidly decided to try the 3 monthly cycle of Utrogestan!
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It's a hormonal blip so enjoy your holiday. Get lots of lub up there ;-)
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Hello
I got back from holiday yesterday and called the doctor. They have made an appointment to see me on Tuesday.
I’ve had no bleeding since but am still very very anxious. I read that postcoital bleeding after menopause can be a sign of ovarian c which has always been a big fear of mine although no reason for it. I saw a consultant 2 years ago because I was having pain and told him about my fear of oc. He gave me a pelvic exam and said 99.9 that there was nothing wrong with my ovaries and that they felt normal. At the time I wanted a scan but he said no need and I realized I needed to trust him and the pains went. Now I’m thinking I should have had a scan and what if I missed it.
I know that they will be more interested in my cervix and uterus lining, but I’m still focused on what I read about bleeding and ovarian.
I’m now making links since the bleed. I’ve had lower backache on and off for months and sometimes have acid reflux.
I can’t seem to rationalize things and have convinced myself all sorts.
Sorry to go on. I tried really hard for it not to ruin my holiday but it certainly meant I couldn’t fully enjoy it.
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Hi Popmummy
If you hadn't taken utrogestan for two and a half months then your womb lining would have thickened, waiting for the next dose of progesterone to consolidate it and then shed it when you stopped the prog.
During orgasm I understand oxytocin is produced and I think this may have an effect of uterine muscles even when not pregnant and in labour (I know it does during labour but potentially also generally?). If that was the case then this could have kick-started the bleeding because really the lining may have been a bit too thick. That would be my take on it. You won't know without a scan but I presume you have now started the Utrogestan, which would be a good idea?
I once had spotting after sex when I was on holiday and when I was on long cycle HRT and apart from a thickened lining ( expected when on cyclical HRT)- they found no abnormalities, except for a cervical ectropion which could have been the cause. Equally it could have been as I was musing above - though this is just my own theory beased on my understanding of the biology....
All the best and keep us posted
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity
I was going to start the Utrogestan on Sunday when I would normally do so. I’ve worked out my last period (withdrawal bleed) was 22 June. I usually take 200mg vaginally and then have a small ‘period’.
However I’m wondering whether taking it (especially vaginally) will affect the internal exam I will no doubt have to have when I see my doctor on Tuesday. Should I take it as planned?
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Saw the doctor today. She was a registrar and began to say referral, then she said I should come off HRT completely for 4 months and if bleeding continued I would then be referred. She then said she needed to speak to the duty doctor for advice. After a while she came back and said I needed a pelvic exam and some swabs. The duty doctor came in and watched her do it all and they both checked my cervix - lovely! They said that it all looked and felt ok. She again said about coming off HRT and I said no, I wanted to be referred and that as I have private health insurance I would go private. So, I’ve got a referral. She seemed very keen that it was the HRT and I said that as the only time I’d bled was after sex, I wasn’t sure. I did explain that I’d been trying 3 monthly utrogeston cycle though and the duty doctor said it could be that. I really thought the advice of coming off HRT was no longer a thing, so am a bit surprised by that!
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Popmummy have you made any progress with your referral?
The exact same thing happened to me twice recently. Very slight bleeding after sex. I am on continuous HRT and 18 months post menopausal. I saw a GP who examined me internally and found nothing of concern. She advised restarting Vagifem (as I had lapsed with this) and having a swab done to rule out infection. I then had an appointment with a different GP as they wanted to discuss the swab results. (Thrush!) She said she was concerned about the bleeding and wanted to refer me but I didn't meet the criteria! She messaged the hospital gynae who suggested a scan. Today I have been phoned and booked in for an urgent scan! There doesn't seem to be any consistency with advice despite the Dr's following guidance on their PC. I had a scan 8 months ago which was reported as normal although the sonographer couldn't see my ovaries. My uterus lining then was 4mm.
It is all very stressful.
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Hello Wend861
Yes, I was referred by my doctor and saw the consultant this week. She did an ultrasound and said everything looked ok but my lining was a bit thick. To begin with I heard her say my lining was 3mm, but after a while she said it was slightly thick. I’m assuming this means only part was thick which is worrying me as I’m thinking what if something’s ‘there’ in that part. Anyway, she then said she would need to do a biopsy but would do a pipelle instead of hysteroscopy as she didn’t think I needed one.
I’ve had 3 hysteroscopys in the past and I have always found them ok. Well this procedure was agony. I have a high pain threshold usually but this took the breath out of me!
So I now have to wait up to 10 days for the results to come.
X
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Hello Popmummy
Sorry you had to go through that. Hopefully it is just that your lining is a little thicker due to less progesterone which you can adjust. The main thing was that they said the scan was ok.
I had a scan yesterday and the lady was lovely and said everything looked normal. I am relieved as when I was referred the hospital said I needed to be seen within a week! The lady who scanned me said this bleeding is very common and often no cause is found. Doctors seem to be over reacting and fast tracking appointments.
I hope you get the results soon and everything is ok. X
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Hi all, watching this thread as I’m going through the same!! On continuous hrt- 60 years old… having light bleeding/ spotting immediately after sex… then nothing. I had an ultrasound about 2.5-3 years ago and they found a couple of polyps that they removed there and then. Up to date with smears (last one about 3 years ago) is there any updates? Or anyone with further info? I’m such a worrier!! X