abnormal ultrasound

I am 49 and had an abnormal period for the first time last month. I went in for my yearly exam and my doctor orderd an ultrasound which came back saying I have a thickened uterus and cysts on my ovaries. I am schduled for biopsies this week. Since then I had a mormal period right on schedule, but I am to the end of it and still having cramping. I feel I am having menapause symptoms. Tired, moodiness, somewhat confused. My mother had breast cancer  in her 30's so I am terrified of that, but could this all be premenapausal symptoms.

[Machelle Seibel, MD]

Yes, all of this could be perimenopause (the symptoms around the time of menopause). You can have the ultrasound repeated to see if the cysts and the uterine lining are normal again after your period. Sometimes, when there is build up of the lining of the uterus, there is more than usual amounts of lining to shed and it takes longer, causing cramps.

If your mom had breast cancer in her 30s, be sure you are being checked each year with a mammogram. Sometimes, in cases such as yours, the doctor will order an MRI of the breasts 6 months after the mammogram so you are having two tests annually. You can discuss this with your doctor or have a consultation with an oncologist who deals with breast cancer. However, the problems you are having with your uterus should have nothing to do with breast cancer.
Machelle Seibel, MD