Hello, and I hope I can help you today.
Technically, women are not supposed to ovulate or menstruate after their period stops for a year, which is the definition of
menopause. However, it is not impossible that you have possibly gotten a period after all this time, especially given that you are experiencing other associated menstrual-type symptoms. If you have been taking any type of supplements or hormones to treat menopausal symptoms, those products can also cause menstrual-type side effects.
However, bleeding after menopause, even if it is very light, can also be a symptom of uterine or
cervical cancer or other types of problems within the
uterus.
So in any case of bleeding after menopause, it is extremely important that you see a doctor for evaluation. You will most likely need a
Pap smear if you have not had one in the last year, an
ultrasound of your uterus, and a procedure called an
endometrial biopsy to make sure that your bleeding is not caused by any growth within the uterine lining. If these tests are all negative, then you may have just had a
hormonal surge and the bleeding may not ever recur.
So in summary, I want to re-iterate how important it is for you to have a medical evaluation for your symptoms, even though the greatest likelihood is that the bleeding you had was due to a benign cause.
I hope I was able to adequately answer your question today and that my advice was helpful.
Best wishes,
Dr. Brown