Period return after 16 months

[party1999]

I am going through menopause and my period returned after 16 months and my doctor want to do an D&C to check for cancer.Should I be concerned and wait to see if my peroids return again next month?. Is this normal with menopause? I have been under alot of stress and thought this may be the problem... The period was normal it lasted 5 days.  what should I do?

[shaycoe12]

Im puzzled too i have gone 16 Years without a period then today clotting and cramps covid-19 keeps me out of the hospitals.  but the pain is on one side and the blood has not stopped yet

[specialmom]

Oh, ya.  That's very odd.  Do you mind me asking your age?  I think if you are of a certain age and you have stopped menstruating because of menopause, that unusual bleeding like this is a reason to touch base with your doctor.  At the very least, call them.  They may do telemedicine with you and confer about next step.  Maybe you could be seen in the doctor's office.  Wear a mask, limit touching things and doctors offices are practicing proper protocol.  My kids had physicals and they don't allow people to wait in the waiting room, you wait in your car and they text you to come in.  They were good about keeping us all safe.  But I think that you need to be seen about this.

[hcrooks46]

The same has happen to me no period for a year, and great I'm back.   I went through the bloating, soar nipples for a week.  Do the period stop again?  Or is this what I to forward to?  I'm 58 I thought I was done.

[datta729]

Me too!!  I'm one of those people who LOVES menopause (2-years in August!) - even though I have terrible hot flashes.  Started menstruating 2 days ago.  Made appointment with new gyn.  It's not spotting - but a full-out period.  I DO have polyps but feel that if a blood vessel popped, the uterine bleed wouldn't be like my period. I even suffered the day or 2 before "crazies" (which ALWAYS happened immediately before menstruating.)  Fortunately, I have a 16 y/o at home so there's plenty of pads.  It's very reassuring to read everyone's tales of period woe here  I'm looking forward to getting back to menopause!

[Raevenflys]

datta729, I really appreciated your comment "crazies". I too had the same craziness when I had periods, so much to the point I would do and make emotional life changing decisions and then several days after my period I would wonder why I got so crazy and intense and felt like it was life or death during that time. I think the term for it is PMDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder. I was so happy to be in menopause because although I had hot flashes and sleep disturbances from the hot flashes, i no longer had the "crazies" PMDD every month. Thanks for sharing everyone, it really helps to know we're not alone.

[alli1525]

Hi, did you ever find out what what caused your period after 17 months...that sounds identical to what happend to me at disney world just a few weeks agaon on Oct 30..i have seen the doctor and he has ordered a d and c an d a biopsy and im in hystiercal state of panic..doctor said to me , after menopause, which my bloodwork last year said i was in , that there should be no more activity from the ovaries..did you see your doctor? if so, what did he say?
Im 49 by th way

[old_before_my_time]

alli - Did you get results of the biopsy? You'd be surprised how many women have post-menopausal bleeding that ends up being nothing serious. Since the ovaries produce hormones our whole lives, post-menopausal bleeding is always a possibility. It seems it tends to be more apt to happen in the first 5 years or so of menopause. Of course, any post-meno bleeding needs to be checked out to be sure it is nothing serious.

[alli1525]

Hi, did you ever find out what what caused your period after 17 months...that sounds identical to what happend to me at disney world just a few weeks agaon on Oct 30..i have seen the doctor and he has ordered a d and c an d a biopsy and im in hystiercal state of panic..doctor said to me , after menopause, which my bloodwork last year said i was in , that there should be no more activity from the ovaries..did you see your doctor? if so, what did he say?
Im 49 by th way

[Bre613]

It has been 17 months since my last cycle, until yesterday 11/3/15.  I had very bad cramps which I've never had in all my days of my cycle, my nipples are so sore. I feel awful!!!!  Is this normal for this length of time and then to restart.  What should I do from this point

[old_before_my_time]

Sorry you are dealing with this. When last year's biopsy showed hyperplasia, were you treated with a progestin medication or D&C and did the hyperplasia resolve? If so, you may not even have hyperplasia but just some post-meno bleeding from sporadic ovarian activity. It happens more than most women realize. And even if the D&C does show hyperplasia, the D&C may be all you need to treat it or a progestin may take care of it, as is often the case especially if there is no atypia.

Hysterectomy is one of the top overused surgeries with only 2% done for a cancer diagnosis. I had an unwarranted one and it has caused many more problems than it fixed.

I hope the D&C goes well. Keep us posted.

[Hayl57]

I read your post thank you. I too am going through the same thing I'm 51 no periods for 13 months had a tiny bit of spotting and was told I had thickened lining. The only difference with me I had the biopsy last year and there was some hyperplasia, now I'm freaking out because I have to have a hysteroscopy and D&C.
The doctor told me I would possibly need a hysterectomy ! I've had very heavy periods all my life, also have fibroids and started periods at age 9. I've been lucky so far no hot flushes not night sweats.
Now I feel like a wreck .

[yearsofchange]

I looked up this site to read what others may be experiencing. I too had not had a period in 12+ months. Being 51 and the same age as my Mother when she went through Menopause. I thought it was be the end of periods for me and I was glad. Surprise, I  am now at the end of a five day period cycle. Apparently it is quite common from what I hear.

[KBorg]

What a pain. I just went 15 months. Thought I was done with that mess. I will be 53 at the end of the summer. Now I am three days into what appears to be a heavy period. This is ridiculous. I thought I was done with this ****.

[dee1235]

yikes have been on every site. Have not been to an OBGYN in four years, my period stopped like two years ago. Got a period with severe cramps today. Have had severe endometriosis in the past. Should I wait till period stops then go to an OB

[dawnangela]

If you haven't had a period for 12 months then it starts again yes it needs to be looked at..Dawn

[PerimenoWorried]

This is a very common occurance!  If you were to do a search through the archives, you'll find this situation MANY times over.  There are women in here who have gone 5 years without a period or more and had them again! :)  

Generally, they will biopsy if we have any bleeding beyond a 12 month span of no bleeding.  It's standard and routine to do.  Some docs will use the "old route" and go directly to a D&C as their biopsy method.  It does have the benefit of cleaning out the uterus at the same time but, it also involves a general anesthesia and a half day or so of being in a hospital.  More and more doctors now are doing two things:  First is to do a transvagnial and abdominal ultrasound.  This checks out the thickness of the uterine lining and will tell the doc if anything is going on in terms of cysts on the ovaries or fibroids that may causing the bleeding.  If the uterine lining is above 4 mm's in thickness, they will automatically move to a second stage which is now, an office procedure, done in 15 minutes, no anesthetic involved, called an Endometrial Biopsy.  During this procedure, you are in "PAP position".  The doctor then inserts at thin tube, called a "Pipelle" in through the cervix and into the uterus, withdrawing a small sample of the endometrial tissue for biopsy.  It is a little uncomfortable at two points (entry through the cervix with a little pinch like sensation and a cramping feeling while they suction a thin bit of the tissue out).  The set-up takes up most of the time in this procedure.  The actual biopsy portion is only a few seconds.  

You may want to get a second opinion to find a doc that will do the in-office biopsy as opposed to a hospital procedure that requires a general anesthetic.  You especially might want to have a doc that will also do an ultrasound FIRST.  Generally, if the endometrial lining is 4 mm's (some say 5 is acceptable) or less, the likelihood of it being cancerous is pretty slim to nil.  

In the meantime, please know that 12 months of no periods is generally a guideline and an average as many women go back to cycling again for a bit even after that period of time has passed and nothing is wrong.  It can be a hormonal swing or one last hurrah for our ovaries.  Some women have found that they've gone back to periods again and really weren't in menopause at all to begin with!  Of course, it all still needs to be investigated and you're doing the right thing in doing so.  The only thing that I'd, personally want to do, is the least invasive testing method.  

By the way, I went 12 months with no periods and right on the dot of the 12th month, thinking I was done...I went back to cycling again.  I had 3 periods last year.  I've had an endometrial biopsy done several weeks ago (in office, no general anesthetic) for continual spotting now.  An ultrasound has shown a thickened uterine lining so, I'm going to be seeing my doc this week (22nd) to get the results of the biopsy and see what needs to be done.  I've been spotting now on and off since the beginning of April!  A royal pain! LOL  

Sending you best wishes!  Please update us as to how you are as your experiences will help others as well who are going through the same.  You know how you feel...others are going to go through the same type of thing.  You aren't the first and you won't be the last. :)  Hang in there! :)

[Raevenflys]

Thank you so much and I am curious to know how your biopsy turned out? I too was searching for answers when I found this site. I haven't had a period for 16 months and was doing the happy dance because I thought I was all done with the horrific, painful, emotionally insane induced periods.After 16 months almost to the date of my last period October 13, 2016, I was shocked to see that I was bleeding. I have had breast tenderness and discomfort, cramps and back pain and was thinking this is exactly how I felt right before I used to have my period. I was shocked and concerned, so what did I do? Googled for answers, Thank you. By everyone sharing their experiences on this subject, I feel so much better. Thanks again everyone.