Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Menopause (Expert Forum)
postmenopausal bleeding
Answered by
Machelle Seibel, MD - Women's Health, menopause, ReproductiveMedicine
University of Massachusetts Medical School
MA
Questions in the Menopause forum are answered by Dr. Machelle Seibel. Topics covered include menopause issues, depression, hormone replacement therapy, hot flashes, joint or muscle problems, memory problems, mood swings, osteoporosis, sexual problems, skin changes, sleeping problems, vaginal problems, and weight problems.
postmenopausal bleeding
by Susan432, Apr 26, 2008 09:45AM
I am age 49 and 2 years postmenopause. (FSH=142.) Never had any gyno problems/issues for over 23 years (only issue was D&C for miscarriage followed by two healthy/successful pregnancies). Never had monthly cramps.No problems with menopause. No hormones ever taken. In great physical shape, health,weight, etc. Recently started spotting with cramps and breast tenderness. Had biopsy. Diagnosis: Disordered proliferative endometrium with no evidence of malignancy identified. Pelvic ultrasound showed an endometrial stripe of 6.3mm with fluid in cavity and tiny subendometrial cysts suggesting possible adenomyosis. All bloodwork OK. Family history of uterine cancer (relative died from this). Spotting and cramping stopped after 2 weeks. Scheduled for D&C. Worried about developing cancer and want to know what is best course of action for my diagnosis. If D&C is best course of action, what should I be expecting in follow-up care? Is it possible for endometrium to grow and thicken w/o symptoms?
Doctor's Answer
by Machelle Seibel, MD, Apr 30, 2008 05:45PM
, Apr 30, 2008 05:45PM
Your biopsy shows the lining to be totally benign and very far from any malignancy. So from the sounds of it, cancer is a very low likelihood. The D&C will make that even more clear for you and should help relieve your symptoms and fears. The uterus has an inner layer called the endometrium. It is the part that separates from the wall of the uterus and sheds with a period. Adenomyosis is a condition where the lining of the uterus, instead of shedding, begins to grow into the wall of the uterus. When that happens, the uterus has pools of blood in its wall and can't clamp down to stop the menstrual bleeding. The end result is cramping and prolonged bleeding. Most of the time a D&C won't treat adenomyosis (if that is in fact the problem). An ultrasound can often help make that diagnosis. But a D&C can help bleeding due to many other things so it does make sense to have it. If your doctor thinks you do have adenomysois, discuss with him or her your treatment options. They include both medications and surgery.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD
Machelle M. Seibel, MD
