Postmenopausal bleeding? Beware that "old age bleeding" is not "inverted flowering"

Mrs. Li, who is over 70 years old, had menopause for more than 20 years. One month ago, she had her period again. At first, she thought she was returning to youth. Her husband even jokingly called her "upside-down flower", so she didn't pay much attention to it, thinking it would be fine after a while. But after a week, vaginal bleeding still occurred from time to time. At this time, Mrs. Li remembered that her neighbor Dr. Wang was an obstetrician and gynecologist, so she picked up the phone and called Dr. Wang with trepidation.

After listening to Mrs. Li's situation, Dr. Wang gave a detailed explanation of her current condition:

What is menopause?

Menopause refers to a state of permanent amenorrhoea caused by ovarian failure. Because of ovarian failure, sex hormones no longer have cyclical changes, and the endometrium no longer sheds and bleeds periodically, so there will be no menstruation.

What is postmenopausal bleeding?

After entering menopause, that is, if irregular vaginal bleeding occurs again one year after menopause, it is often an early sign of disease and should be a cause of concern.

What are the common causes of postmenopausal bleeding?

There are two categories: benign organic diseases and malignant diseases.

Benign organic diseases:

1. Senile vaginitis is mainly caused by decreased estrogen levels, which leads to atrophy of the vaginal wall and thinning of the mucosa. In severe cases, pathogenic bacteria invasion will manifest as purulent and bloody secretions.

2. Endometrial inflammation with intrauterine fluid is manifested by increased vaginal discharge, which is sometimes purulent and bloody.

3. Submucous uterine fibroids, endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial polyps, and cervical polyps: They are often manifested by bloody vaginal discharge and dull pain in the lower abdomen.

Malignant diseases:

Common cervical cancer and endometrial cancer: In postmenopausal women, symptoms include bleeding during intercourse, irregular vaginal discharge, and bleeding, which are particularly concerning for obese and diabetic women.

What should I do if I notice postmenopausal bleeding?

Go to the hospital for relevant examinations as soon as possible. Common gynecological examinations include vaginal secretion bacteria examination, HPV (human papillomavirus) test, TCT (cervical liquid-based cytology) test.

Auxiliary examination: gynecological ultrasound examination

Hysteroscopy

prevention

Menopause is a high-risk period for many diseases, so it is very necessary to insist on annual health check-ups. If you experience postmenopausal bleeding, you must be highly vigilant and go to a regular hospital for examination in time to ensure early diagnosis and early treatment.

After listening to what Dr. Wang said, Mrs. Li nodded repeatedly and said she would go to the nearby Zhoupu Hospital's gynecology clinic for treatment immediately.

Note: There is no copyright issue for the pictures in this article

Author: Liu Zhou, Wang Ying, Zhao Jiangxia, Zhoupu Hospital, Pudong New Area, Shanghai

Liuzhou

Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Professor of Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Adjunct Professor of Hainan Medical College.

Engaged in clinical, teaching and scientific research work in obstetrics and gynecology for 28 years. Professional research direction: gynecological tumors, gynecological minimally invasive techniques and conservative surgery for adenomyosis, and rescue of critical obstetric emergencies.

Clinic hours: Monday afternoon, Thursday morning

Wang Ying

Deputy Chief Physician of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Health and Medical College.

I have been engaged in obstetrics and gynecology for 20 years and have been working in the front line of obstetrics and gynecology for a long time. In the past 20 years of work practice, I have systematically and comprehensively mastered the diagnosis and treatment principles and measures of common, frequently occurring and difficult and complicated diseases in obstetrics and gynecology. I have accumulated rich clinical experience. In the process of diagnosis and treatment, I advocate the patient-centered working principle and have good professional ethics and professionalism.

Clinic hours: Saturday afternoon

Funded by Shanghai Science and Technology Commission's Science Popularization Project

(Project No.: 20DZ2311100)