Vaginal infections such as yeast or bacterial vaginosis are another culprit.īleeding originating from the cervix can occur if there is a benign cervical polyp or cervical inflammation. So, short of cancer, what causes most postmenopausal bleeding?Ī bloody vaginal discharge is commonly due to dryness and thinning of vaginal tissue from lack of estrogen. Here, everyone either arrives bleeding or leaves bleeding.” Not exactly how I would have phrased it, but somewhat accurate nonetheless. Many women are hesitant to be examined while bleeding, but as I overheard my nurse once say to one of my patients who was reluctant, “Don’t worry. Your description helps, but I have learned over the years that one woman’s spotting is another woman’s hemorrhage. The best time to see your gynecologist about abnormal vaginal bleeding is while you are bleeding so we can determine not only where it’s coming from, but also how heavy it is. If the tampon stays white but there is blood in the toilet bowl, it’s most likely coming from the rectum or bladder and a visit to your primary care doctor is in order. When in doubt, put a tampon in (you may have to borrow one from your daughter). Blood on the toilet paper can be coming from the vagina, rectum or bladder, and while it seems as if the source should be obvious, it’s not always easy to know. The first step is to determine where the blood is coming from. So, if you see red and you’re not supposed to … what next?
In spite of the fact that most women imagine the worst, in the majority of cases, postmenopausal bleeding is not an indication of anything serious. It’s not just about making the midnight run for sanitary products, it’s that stomach-dropping fear that “blood equals cancer” that causes women to spend hours searching the Internet for reassurance. It’s always disconcerting to have unexpected vaginal bleeding, but it’s particularly unsettling when it occurs years after your uterus and ovaries have closed for business and you no longer possess a pad or a tampon.
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