Joan

I am concerned that after 3 years of finishing my periods and I am 57years old I have started a period.  I have had no problems since I finished having a period.  Why would this happen?

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

There are many reasons for bleeding after menopause. Most are benign. Examples include a buildup of the uterine lining, a polyp (which is a small fleshy benign tumor), bleeding from the vagina because it is dry, and many others.

However, because occasionally the bleeding can be due to a buildup of abnormal cells, it is important to see your doctor just to be on the safe side. He/she might want to do an exam, an ultrasound to look inside your uterus, and/or do an endometrial biopsy which is an office procedure that removes a few cells from the uterine lining. It should be possible to find an answer in a short period of time.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD