Friday, May 24, 2013
Sunday, February 20, 2011 Helen Parra asks

Q: Hello-I'm 53 years old and I stopped my period 3 years ago-this month I started having a period again? Is this common? Should I be concerned?

Answer This
Answers (4)
Dorian Martin, Health Guide
2/25/11 12:33pm

Hi, Helen,

 

I'm not a medical doctor, so I'm not going to suggest what may be going on in your situation. But I would recommend that you call or get an appointment with your doctor to find out what may be behind this.

 

Take care and keep us posted!

 

Dorian

Reply
2/25/11 1:38pm

Hi Helen,

 

I am also in the 50s. I would think when it is bleeding, it is safer to check with the doctor to see what is going on. Maybe something is wrong since you didn't have it for 3 months. Or maybe the stopping for 3 months had something wrong there... Either way, please  see you OB/GYN to see what is going on.

 

Take care,

NC

Reply
2/25/11 1:38pm

Sorry it is 3 years, so check it out to make sure the bleeding is OK.

 

NC

Reply
Sandy Greenquist, Health Pro
2/27/13 11:05am
Hello Helen, It is not uncommon for a woman in this age range to stop bleeding and then pick up again later. I have had many patients over the years with whom this happened. This occurs because of the lowering levels of your estrogen and progesterone hormones. You still have enough estrogen to slowly build up a lining over time and then, when it is thick enough, you will begin to shed it. However, bleeding after 3 years does need to be evaluated by your doctor to insure that nothing abnormal is occurring. Most likely, they will do a vaginal ultrasound and look at/measure the lining and possibly a biopsy. Good luck with this, Helen, and keep in touch, Sandy Greenquist, CNM Menopause Clinician Reply
5/14/13 11:40am

Hi Helen,

I have also gone without a period for a little over a year.  This past month while at work I felt a very sharp pain in my lower right ab - went to bathroom and saw spotting - called doctor to see later in day, however spot turned into a full blown period of 3 days - did go to doctor, had pelvic, pap, and transvaginal, said everything looked ok - did mention that sometimes endometrial lining can be thick and that's what they look at - suggested possibly a biopsy - we decided to wait to see what happened the next month -sure enough, 23 days later, sharp pain in opp. lower ab, and period.  It has continued now for 5 days - heavy the first 3 and occasional spotting - I'm set up to have biopsy today - I have been concerned as well - this time around I feel more cramping, squeezing just above the pelvic area and more sharp pains, but this time nausea on and off - of course I pray it is nothing serious, I'll be turning 50 this year.  It is comforting though to see these other posts - sometime I feel like I'm running to the doctor for everything -

Reply
Sandy Greenquist, Health Pro
5/22/13 3:43pm

hi Helen,

It is not an unusual thing to happen because your hormones decline slowly and you can be very gradually building a lining in your uterus that will eventually be thick enough to have spotting to bleeding.  Despite this fact, because it is outside the norm and could be an indication of a problem, I would encourage you to see a gynecologist for an evaluation.  S/he will probably order a vaginal ultrasound and do a biopsy to determine that the tissues are normal and there is not an abnormality causing bleeding.

Good luck to you and keep in touch!

Sandy Greenquist, CNM

Menopause Center of MN

Reply
Answer This

Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Remedy Health Media. Remedy Health Media does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.

By Helen Parra— Last Modified: 05/22/13, First Published: 02/20/11