Reading someof these posts have made me feel a lot better.
Am 53 years old and haven't had a period in about two years. Had pap and regular gyno exam late January of this year. Everything was find but he did see even tho I was not menstruating, that my ovary was not completely atrophied and to be sure and use bc. A couple months ago i noticed a mucus discharchand thought, oh oh....could I be ovulating?
Then a couple days ago had PMS symptons with really tender breasts. I remember thinking that it felt just like before my period. I had a mammogram scheduled next day and I thought it might be uncomfortable if my breast were still tender. Woke up next morning, felt fine, no breast tenderness BUT it looked like I had started my period. Kind of spotty and pink but now it looks like a light period.

Called my ob/gyn and the nurse said it wasn't unusual but she would talk to dr. He's fairly conservative so I knew he would want to see me. She called back later and was reassuring, but said he'd like to see me in about a week and a half to check things out.


Ok...I'm a little freaked. After reading some of these posts, I realize this is not totally uncommon. Of course, I realize it must be checked out.

Lots of stress on this end. Getting our oldest ready to leave for college this week and husbands job status has changed. Plus we have two teenage boys at home so it's always crazy around this house. I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

If anyone else has found themselves in a similar situation, please share.
I resume teaching next week and I alternate between, it's probably nothing to planning my funeral. I never use to be like this until perimenopause. It s*cks.

Thanks for any responses.
pat

Hi Pat & welcome to P-S.

I wish I had some advice but I've not experierinced this. I know some of the girls here have gone for quite some time without a period, then been surprised by one. Since your doc was still concerned about BC plus all the stress ... could just be one of those freaky things.

When is your doc appt? I wish you the best & please let us know what you find out!

Hi Pat,

I'm going through almost exactly the same thing at age 52. My last period was almost exactly two years ago, in mid-July of 2003. In my premenopausal years, when menstruation became erratic, it was always at its most regular during late spring/early summer.

I haven't had a spot, not even a brown one, since the '03 period--until today. Leading up to this, for about a month my breasts have been killing me, my irritable bowel has been acting up, and I've been kind of PMS-ey. So I was not entirely surprised this morning to see a bit of red and brown discharge that looked just like the beginning of a period.

I'm going to call my gynecologist, especially in view of the fact that I have a cystic mass on one ovary that he's been watching for several years. But I'm not terribly concerned. This episode seems to have all the earmarks of some sort of hormonal blip--"one last egg," as others here have put it. I'm betting that's what yours is, too.

Avalon

A big thanks to all of you and those that responded to the even longer thread on this subject.
I'm going to try to get in a little earlier because I start teaching next week.
I do have a gut feeling that this was one last hurrah.
I spoke with people at the Akins and the women said this happens quite frequently.
I understand the need to do testing but it amazes me that outside of stories from women themselves, this is not mentioned as a possibility.

Good luck to you Avalon and others.
I'll keep you posted but will tell you that reading the boards and hearing from other women has been a great stress reducer.

pat

To me, the sore breasts are the giveaway that this is a hormonal surge. The ONLY time I've had sore breasts in my life is pre-period.

I'm now 8 months without a period, and am savoring being able to lie on my belly!!!

You've done a service to us by letting us know these post hormonal surgers can occur!

JJ

This is my first ever post here. This is day two following a uterine biopsy which I received after noticing a small amount of blood for a couple of days. I'm 54 and haven't had a period for at least 3 years. The one thing that comforts me during this pre pathology results period is that I do recall last week that my nipples were extremely sensitive and actually painful. My doctor thinks that there is a chance this unusal bleeding could be hormonally caused and not necessarily a sign of cancer. I have a history of mega estrogen during fertility treatments in my mid 40's as well as being a past smoker not to mention my mother took DES during her pregnancy with me so uterine cancer has always been a fear of mine.

I was so comforted by hearing about these so called hormone spurts that can occur post menopause. Thanks for the info. Fingers crossed on the result of my biopsy.

Please let us know, eve. I know how nerve wracking the wait is. I was suppose to get results on Thursday, but didn't get them until this past Friday morning. Everything was FINE and dr. said it was a period that was more than likely due to a hormonal surge. I think getting our oldest ready for college kicked something in...who knows?

I am absolutely amazed at how many women have had this happen. I do realize that it is smart to get it checked out but I wish I had known how common it is.
Reading this board and talking to gal pals really helped.

I also learned that cervical and uterine cancer are slow growing cancers and are often caught early. When they are, there is a very high cure rate.

It just really put everything in perspective for me and I know I have been a nicer person lately. But yegads....the worry was absolutely horrible.

Hang in there and let us know what is going on.
pat

I just joined in hopes of getting some information. I got up tonight to let the dogs out and to go pee. When I got up, I noticed that I had started my period again. This is a problem, because I abruptly stopped having periods around this same time 2 years ago. I mean one month I had a period as usual, and the next month it stopped and never returned. I wasn't sure what starting my period again meant, so I got on the net to look it up. All I read said it could be cancer. I, also, bumped into this discussion, so I joined up immediately in order to post this message. I will call my doctor in the morning, but I was hoping someone had some feedback.

Yep, if caught early enough.

I had cervical cancer 21 years ago...we did the freezing but it came back, then did the burning..that got it. I still go in every 6 months though for my pap. It hasnt returned.

My sister had it 9 yrs ago...same procedure with her...hasnt been back 4 her.

Also her daughter had it, she was 20..which was 3 yrs ago...they just lazered hers... all 3 clean still! Yahoo!

I'm hoping someone on this thread can help reassure me. I officially became menopausal in July 05. So glad to be on that side. Then about a month ago, around the same time dr. gave me zoloft for anxiety, I started feeling something going on in my ovaries--kinda felt like the engine starting up again. Was experiecing hot flashes and all, but not too troublesome. Then I noticed a discharge and now I'm so bloated, am retaining water and have incredibly sore breasts, have carb cravings, etc. I told my husband, I'd rather have hot flashes than feel like this again. He laughs. I thought I was through with all this! Am I too expect another period? All these hormonal ups and downs are getting annoying! When will it all settle down?

Hi
Have you had another period or just feel like you might?
I have the symptoms like my period is going to start but it doesn't.
I am wondering if the cycle still goes on even though we don't have periods.
Myabe someone can help us!

Angel <_<

I kind of feel like it might come because of the PMS symptoms, discharge, bloating, sore breasts, water retention, etc. I have heard of women having a period after reaching menopause. These symptoms just caught me by surprise since I thought I wouldn't feel this way anymore and would just have hot flashes, etc. I felt a little like this when I tried synthetic and bioidentical hormones, but I'm not on those anymore and haven't been for 6+ months.

To Avondale; I had a period after 3 years of being in menopause. After doing a lot of internet research, I went to see a GYN. He tested me for all the cancers, and he did a D&C and Hysteroscopy two weeks ago. Everything came back fine, but I do have a bunch of fibroids that are causing me to bleed. I see him in about two more weeks for a followup. I have had a bloody discharge, since I quit the Provera. I'm not real happy about taking any hormones, yet I still might if I keep bleeding. As for your question, I am wondering how long it has been since you had a period? If it hasn't been at least one year, everything is probably alright. Is the discharge bloody? If it has been over a year, you DO need to see a GYN. I am in the medical professional, and I highly recommend you seeing a GYN not just a family prac. Sometimes this is serious stuff, especially ovarian cancer, and you need someone that has dealt with post menopausal bleeding before. Post menopausal bleeding is very common, but there is usually a problem causing it whether it can be controlled with home remedies or not. I don't know if he is going to do a Hysterectomy yet, but I don't intend to have a bloody discharge the rest of my life. There is supposed to be an advantage for suffering through peri-menopause. God bless and I will keep you in my prayers.

Holdec--

Thanks for your advice and concern. This message board has been so wonderful. The discharge I'm having is not bloody--kinda whitish--like the kind you get when ovulating. Sorry to confuse any readers. I had a similar discharge when I went on HRT. So that's why I thought I might be getting a period. It's been 15+ months since my last period which is why I was puzzled about my symptoms of breast tenderness and water retention, etc. They are starting to subside a little bit, so maybe I'm on the downswing of the hormonal rollarcoaster, but no period yet,and hopefully not ever again . I will see a doc about these symptoms--for piece of mind.

Avondale; You are very welcome. It was nice to finally get a response to one of my posts. I really do encourage you to see a doctor for the discharge regardless of what kind. I'm glad to hear it's not bloody. It is probably something simple, but women's health issues are nothing to guess around with. Take care and let me know what you find out from the doctor whenever you go. God bless.

Holdec,

Just wanted to follow up on my last post. I did go see my doctor. She explained that it's not unusual to have a 'period' after seemingly reaching menopause. After this period I had some spotting so I became concerned. My doc ordered an ultrasound which came back normal--only a small fibroid and nothing to be concerned about. So I'm hoping this is it. But I do feel relieved. As she said, "Your body is going to drive you crazy before this is all over!" She's right.

Avondale, I'm really glad to hear your doctor didn't think the discharge and blood was anything abnormal. Did your doctor do some blood work and at least a pelvic exam along with the ultrasound? I'm assuming she did before telling you everything looks normal. Yes, a small fibroid can be considered normal, but keep an eye on things anyway. Supposedly, fibroids actually reduce in size after menopause, because they are fed by estrogen which reduces during menopause. In my case, they did not find cancer when my doctor did a D&C and hysterosopy, but he did find a uterus full of fibroids. I guess it's a good thing I wasn't planning on anymore children. I'm too old and tired now anyway. When I went back for my one month followup, he said since I'm still bleeding and having so much pain, he wants to do a hysterectomy. I'm game, because I'm becoming anemic from bleeding so much and the pain is getting a lot worse. However, I cannot have the surgery until one of my employees comes back from alcohol rehab in December. I'm kind of nervous though. Ok, enough about me. Make sure they follow up on that fibroid on your next annual exam. Make them do another pelvic ultrasound to make sure it isn't growing or changing in nature. Best of luck to you, and God bless, Holdec

Hi, I'm new to this forum but "googled" it with my symptoms of breast tenderness (to put it lightly) and then shortly thereafter very light brownish bloody discharge - a period! (I guess???). I had this many months ago, probably 9 months ago. (exactly the same breast tenderness followed by the same "period". I had a yearly visit with a new ob/gyn who ordered blood work and determined that I was in menopause - Age 52. She said any further bleeding would be abnormal since I was in menopause. Well the breast tenderness has subsided as the "period" started. Should I see a doctor?

I had a period 2 wks ago after a 2 yr. hiatus! It was identical to my periods and the cramps lasted 4 days just like before. Yesterday my left side just above the hip bone gave me those ovulation twinges for about 2 hrs! How the heck can a person bounce out of menopause? I never heard of such a thing before. I thought that once you are in menopause theres no turning back? I am going to see my doc this wk. because I find this totally abnormal.

Shercat, it's always best to get it checked out. I, myself, am famous for getting one period a year. SHHHHHHHHHH -- I have two weeks to go to make it a whole year!

Hi, I'm new to this. I'm feeling freaked out. I haven't had a period in about 13 months, but yesterday I started my period. I thought I was through with it all. I looked online and started reading about uterine cancer and got freaked out. I've already had breast cancer, so I guess I'm just paranoid. I go to my gyn at the end of July for my yearly pap smear, but do you think I should go in earlier? Why would I be bleeding after not having a period for 13 months? If I am having a period now, does that mean I could still get pregnant? I have so many questions, but I don't have anyone who has been through things I've been through. I am hoping someone out there will be able to help me. (In case it matters, I'm 50.) Thanks to all.

MD, I'm having an ultrasound today for the very same thing. I've had many, by the way. I get one period a year and have since I was 48 (I'm 57). This time I only had a small spot, but they want to test it anyway.

I don't think you can get pregnant, but I suppose it's still a possibility. I once asked that same question and they told me that the oldest anyone conceived (by accident, I'm sure) was 52.

I would definitely call your doctor and make an earlier appointment. Try not to be scared though. I understand this kind of bleeding is pretty common. It's better to be safe than sorry. Good luck!

Hugs,
Meryl

MDMOM, Meryl, Shercat, and anyone else whose out there in cyberland;

It's been a while since I have put anything on the board and a lot has happened since then. In September 2005, I stared bleeding after 2 years in menopause. Thanks to the Lord, I was able to get into a GYN within the week. The first thing he did was start checking for various cancers by doing a hysteroscopym a D&C, and biopsied all the tissue he retrieved from the procedures. It was a day surgery, and I was back home by Noon. I was off work the next day along with the Following Saturday and Sunday. The results came back fairly quick the next week. It was not any type of cancer. Hallelujah. From there, my GYN continue my usage of Progesterone and told me to come back in one month. At the end of that month, I told him the pain, cramps, and consistent bleeding were more than I wanted to put up with, so he scheduled for me to have a hysterectomy, bladder suspension, and rectocele. I had to wait five weeks, since I had an employee who was going into alcohol rehab. We both couldn't be gone at the same time. Lots of ADVIL helped me through the month.

Apparently, postmenopausal bleeding is very common and usually not cancerous. However, ALWAYS GET INTO A GYN IMMEDIATELY TO CONFIRM IF IT IS CANCER OR NOT. It can be a very serious issue that can progress quickly, so don't delay because of fearing bad news. If caught early, the end results can make an entire world of difference.

I hope this helps those of you are just now starting to go through this. You will be in my prayers.

HOLDEC