Reproductive & Sexual Health
Postmenopausal Bleeding
Any uterine bleeding occurring at least 6 months after menstruation has stopped — always signaling an underlying condition that needs evaluation, most commonly atrophic vaginitis, but sometimes cancer.
📝 Summary
In short: Any uterine bleeding occurring at least 6 months after menstruation has stopped — always signaling an underlying condition that needs evaluation, most commonly atrophic vaginitis, but sometimes cancer.
Common causes: Most common: atrophic vaginitis (vaginal inflammation from estrogen decline).; Also: cervical erosion, cancer of the cervix, thickened endometrium, cancerous uterine growths, uterine polyps.; Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can also cause controlled monthly bleeding — but any other PMB pattern is abnormal..
First thing to try: Always consult a physician to rule out cancer and identify the cause.
See a doctor if: This is a potentially serious condition that requires professional medical diagnosis and care. See a doctor promptly — the suggestions here are gentle, supportive measures only and are not a substitute for medical treatment.
🌿 Overview
Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) should always prompt medical evaluation. The most common and least serious cause is atrophic vaginitis (vaginal inflammationThe body's natural response to injury — like redness, swelling, or heat around a sore spot. More → from estrogen decline). Other causes include cervical erosion, cancer of the cervix (bleeding more likely after intercourse), thickened endometrium, cancerous growths, or uterine polyps. Any PMB that is not the result of controlled hormone replacement therapy indicates a significant disorder.
Common signs
- Bleeding from the uterus occurring at least 6 months after menstruation has stopped.
- Generally painless; ranges from light spotting to a more significant flow.
🔎 Why it happens
Common causes and triggers — spotting yours is often the first step to relief.
- Most common: atrophic vaginitis (vaginal inflammation from estrogen decline).
- Also: cervical erosion, cancer of the cervix, thickened endometrium, cancerous uterine growths, uterine polyps.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can also cause controlled monthly bleeding — but any other PMB pattern is abnormal.
✅ What to do
Gentle, practical steps you can take at home — start at the top.
- Always consult a physician to rule out cancer and identify the cause.
- If the cause is found to be non-serious, astringent herbs and douches can help control the bleeding.
- See Profuse Menstruation for a large collection of herbs to reduce uterine bleeding — including red raspberry, shepherd's purse, witch hazel, and thyme.
- Uterine bleeding section provides additional approaches.
- Uterine fibroids section provides relevant information for fibroid-related bleeding.
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🍽️ Eating to help
Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.
Support general health and hormonal balance: low-fat, high-fiber plant diet. Vitamin C and bioflavonoids strengthen capillaries.
⚖️ Good to know
- This is a red-flag symptom that must always be medically evaluated — cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer) or cervix must be ruled out before attributing PMB to a benign cause.
- Do not delay evaluation.
🩺 When to see a doctor
- This is a potentially serious condition that requires professional medical diagnosis and care. See a doctor promptly — the suggestions here are gentle, supportive measures only and are not a substitute for medical treatment.
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