During my life, up until about the last few years or so, I had the regular vaginal discharge--- a bit that would show on underwear. My periods have been irregular - hot flashes and the like. I have noticed, since I haven't had a 'regular period" since Mayof 06 ( spotting in July & October nothing since), a little of the old discharge again.

It isn't a 'foul' disease type discharge...it's just like the old days when I was young and dewy ( I'm 48 now!). Is this normal for menopause? I have read that this time is similar to puberty...aches and pains, weird periods, etc.

I had a uterine biopsy in October due to thickening of U...came back fine. I see doc in July but just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

THanks
erars

As our tissue ages, it gets thinner, and it becomes a good culture for bacteria, so it could be a bacterial infection. But there is also a "normal" golden-like discharge that comes with atrophy, and my doctor isn't concerned about it. Hope this helps.

Meryl, could you be more specific? I stopped taking conventional oral HRT containing estradiol and progestogen seven months ago. After stopping I noticed a yellow discharge. I was tested for vaginal infection and the tests were negative. I also had a cervical smear which was normal. My GP didn't mention vaginal atrophy, although when the smear was taken it was discovered I had a cervical polyp.

I consult a private doctor separately, someone who specialises in menopause and she says that the vaginal discharge changes with menopause. I was suffering dryness and itching in the area since stopping HRT and she recommended a vaginal gel with phytoestrogens that's used in the vagina twice a week. Your post is the second I've read on here that mentions a particular type of discharge associated with vaginal atrophy and I'd be grateful for any details.

For several months the vaginal gel did turn the discharge back white again and alleviated the dryness and itching. Then the yellow discharge came again and after ten months without a period, I started a heavy period. I couldn't apply the gel during the period. Now the discharge is yellow again. I don't know if this is because there are maybe traces of blood in the discharge or whether it's vagainal atrophy or the polyp or what. Anyway, I'd be grateful to hear of your experience.

Okay. This is something that has sent me in a complete tizzy over the years because I too was afraid it was blood. In fact, I told one doctor that it was blood (as it was tan) and they tried to do a D&C on me (they never bothered to look at what I was talking about.) Finally, I went back to my old gyn who knows me very well (left her for someone closer -- stupid me). She took a swab, and showed it to me. It was yellowish tan on the Q-tip. She put on the hemocult thing that they use for testing blood in the poop, and she said, see, if there was blood in there it would have turned blue; there is no blood in there. So I said, what should I look for? I can't keep running in here when I have vaginal discharge! She said I would probably see red or brown, perhaps pink, but not the yellow-tan crap! I asked her if the vaginal hormones like Vagifem would help, and she said probably not, so I'm not using anything at all. It seems to come and go. I have it right now, as a matter of fact.

If it's yellow, I really wouldn't be too concerned. My sister has it too; she's 65 and had a hysterectomy in her 40s.

Gosh thanks Meryl. There's so little information around on this sort of thing. Yes it's dark yellow when it occurs. In fact it was the practice nurse who took the smear test at my GP's surgery, a woman who looks to be in her sixties. So I asked her if the discharge changed on menopause, or on stopping supplementing with hormones. She said "Well I don't have a discharge". I said "You must have something, you wouldn't be completely dry down there" and she acknowledged well no, she wasn't. Then the other doctor I consult privately and who specialises in menopause told me that the discharge does change on menopause. Why can't female GP's and post menopausal practice nurses impart this information? I'm aware that they have to test of course, which is all well and good, but they seem unaware of the many possible effects of menopause in our public health system (I live in the UK).

The private doctor I consult also said that I might have a discharge or even slight bleeding as a result of the cervical polyp, so I suppose this is the next thing to address. *sighs*

But thanks for your information. It's been really helpful to know that both you and your sister experience this kind of discharge. It could well be vaginal atrophy in my case. When I stopped having periods regularly the changes in my vulva, vagina, joints, etc. was really rapid. I imagine oestrogen levels were falling rapidly in my case. Then I started HRT and to an extent this started reversing. Then I stopped HRT and experienced really rapid changes in that area again, along with the change in discharge.

Thank you so much for your information. This forum is invaluable.

Best wishes.

Thanks so much for this info! I had a transvaginal ultrasound today, gyn appt in a couple of days. I will bring it up to her but I don't have the hysteria (ha!).

Of course, now I will worry about the ultrasound results. Not that I had any symptoms, I just have one a year due to Fibroids.

I have not had a period since May 2006, so the tech tells me...I'm post menopausal. I cried in the bathroom.

Old and stressed!

Thanks so much for this info! I had a transvaginal ultrasound today, gyn appt in a couple of days. I will bring it up to her but I don't have the hysteria (ha!).

Of course, now I will worry about the ultrasound results. Not that I had any symptoms, I just have one a year due to Fibroids.

I have not had a period since May 2006, so the tech tells me...I'm post menopausal. I cried in the bathroom.

Old and stressed!