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Dr. Kevin Audlin, The Gynecology Center at Mercy

Dr. Kevin Audlin, the Gynecology Center at Mercy, Notes That Post-Menopausal Bleeding Can Be Signs of Serious Disease That Should Not Be Ignored

Menopause usually occurs after a woman doesn't have her menstrual cycle for about a year, but sometimes a woman has spotting or heavy bleeding even after menopause, doctors said.

Dr. Kevin Audlin of Mercy Medical Center, The Gynecology Center at Weinberg, said bleeding occurs in about 10 percent of postmenopausal women and should never be ignored.

"There is a possibility for something that could be potentially concerning, like endometrial cancer," he said.

There are other causes of postmenopausal bleeding, including fibroids, polyps, the thinning of the lining of the uterus and hormone replacement therapy, which often makes the uterine lining shed.

Years after going through menopause, Lisa Goss said she became concerned when she suddenly had heavy bleeding.

"I knew I wasn't supposed to be bleeding," she said.

Goss said she found out her bleeding came from a polyp that was detected and removed by a hysteroscopy. Dr. Audlin noted that it's the most thorough procedure to find abnormalities.

"We perform a diagnostic hysteroscopy to visualize the whole entire uterine cavity so that you don't miss anything that potentially is inside the cavity," he said.

Dr. Audlin added that women experiencing post-menopausal bleeding should also consult their doctor to rule out any serious medical issues.