Questions & Answers : menopause symptoms, spotting

Is spotting normal?

Editor — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:25:00 GMT

Question:

I am 47 and sometimes I have spotting between periods. Could this be part of menopause?

Name withheld

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Answer:

Yes. But it could be something else. If you’re concerned, you should have a medical checkup.

Spotting after sex

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:40:00 GMT

Question:

I am 58 years old and sexually active. The last time I was with my partner, I experienced some spotting. Is this natural? I did not experience any pain or discomfort. It stopped and has not occurred since.

Name withheld

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Answer:

Post-menopause, the vaginal walls are thinner and less resilient, so it’s easier for them to be damaged. It’s likely nothing. That said, we recommend that a woman who experiences any bleeding after menopause contact her doctor.

Abnormal menstrual flow

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:32:00 GMT

Question:

I'm 51. I had my period in December but not in January. In February, I had a normal flow, and two weeks after I started spotting for about four days; then three days before the end of the month, I spotted for three days. Is this normal? I spoke to my gynecologist and he said this was not normal. I recently had a pap smear and was told that endometrial cells were found. My doctor wants to do a D&C and I'm very scared. Should I be?

Name withheld

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Answer:

It’s far too early to be expending emotional energy on fear. You’ll know a lot more after the D & C. Even if it ended up that you had endometrial cancer – which is not a foregone conclusion (one study found that three-quarters of women with endometrial cells did not have a malignant cancer) – patients with beginning stages of the disease have a very good five-year prognosis.

Spotting during menopause

Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:27:00 GMT

Question:

I've been in menopause for six years. I recently started spotting and it has continued for six weeks, on and off. What could be the cause of this?

Cathy

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Answer:

Spotting after menopause is abnormal, but irregular spotting during perimenopause – the time leading up to full cessation of menstruation – is fairly common. Still, it would be worth getting it checked out by a doctor.