10 days with period

I went to see my Dr because I did not get a period for 3 months. I thought it was menopause, for I am 49 years old. She send me to have a ultrasound. It shows that my uterus lining is very thick, like 22mm and I also have a cyst in my left ovary, I am schedule to have a biopsy. Now I have my period but I have been bleedind heavily now for ten days. Is this normal I am gettin worried

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

The word normal is difficult to define because "normal" can be such a wide range of symptoms. While it is likely that your experience is normal, the testing is needed to answer the question. Often at age 49, estrogen levels are high but because ovulation does not occur, the progesterone level does not increase and a period does not occur. The period is designed to shed the uterine lining. If that doesn't happen, it just builds up which is what happened in your case. After the biopsy, your doctor might place you on some progesterone every 1 to 3 months so this doesn't continue to happen. But your body is in a state of transition and will have changing needs over the next few years.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD