Is it possible to have your period after menopause?

Dear Doc,

To my greatest surprise at age sixty-five, I got another period. Why is this so?

Merle

Dear Merle,

It is not a period!

Any vaginal bleeding after menopause MUST be investigated by your doctor.{{more}}

Menopause is considered to have started when more than one year has passed since the last period in a woman whose ovarian functions have stopped. Generally this condition arises with age, but can happen whenever the ovaries have stopped functioning, for instance if they are surgically removed.

If there is any vaginal bleeding after menopause has been established, other reasons for bleeding must be investigated. The number one reason to investigate post-menopause bleeding is to rule out cancer of the uterus. Your doctor might decide to obtain an ultrasound of the uterus and can also have a Dilatation and Curettage (D&C) to collect a sample for laboratory examination. The D&C may also stop the bleeding, but you might also require medications to assist.

All post-menopausal bleeding must be investigated properly by your doctor.

Doc

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