Post menopausal bleeding can understandably cause alarm to most women experiencing it. If you're one of them, remember that it's a common enough symptom to affect as much as 30% of post menopausal women. Still, it doesn't mean that you can just leave it be. The absence of menstruation for at least 12 months signals in post menopause, so bleeding at any time after that period is considered abnormal and should be immediately checked by a doctor.
While most causes of and conditions leading to post menopausal bleeding are benign, there is the possibility that other, more serious reasons are behind it. For one thing, there can already be cancer-causing abnormalities in your uterus or vagina which require medical investigation. Polyps, fibroids, and other growths are usually harmless but nevertheless need to be treated to stop the bleeding. To determine the real cause, a range of gynecological tests involving trans-vaginal ultrasound, hysteroscopy, or even a biopsy can be done.
Perhaps the most common cause of post menopausal bleeding is the decline of estrogen levels leading to atrophic vaginitis. The lining of the vagina gets thinner, resulting in dryness and in painful intercourse. Also, lowered hormonal levels are responsible for endometrial atrophy, which results in the thinning of tissues lining the uterus and spontaneous bleeding or spotting.
Barring going for risky, side effects-laden hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which can actually be causing post menopausal bleeding in the first place, what can you do to address this inconvenient symptom? Lots of things; and the good news is, they can be safe, effective, inexpensive, and all-natural methods.
Keep calm and carry on. Not to oversimplify or understate post menopausal bleeding, but clinical studies have shown that this actually ties in pretty well with a woman's anxiety levels and state of mind. Intense excitement, anger, depression, or anxiety have been known to cause spontaneous bleeding, especially among post menopausal females. So try to steer clear of emotional and psychological stress-inducing situations, and keep a positive and serene frame of mind at all times. As an added physical fitness bonus, try doing yoga and other exercises that can keep you centered and calm, and tone your muscles at the same time.
Make heat your friend. Hot flashes should be kept at bay during menopause and beyond, but to effectively address post menopausal bleeding, semi-hot baths, heating pads, and hot water bottles can actually help relieve discomfort. Take lukewarm baths as often as you can because they can aid in relaxing your muscles and alleviating aches temporarily. If some pain comes with the bleeding, you can place a hot water bottle or a heating pad on your lower back or abdomen while resting to ease you of it.
Try natural treatments to control post menopausal bleeding. Over-the-counter medication can be prescribed at any time, but they can prove to be quite expensive in the long run. Why not go for organic and natural cures first? Homeopaths and herbal practitioners attest to their efficacy in the right dosages. Some of the most popular ones that address post menopausal bleeding include alfalfa, which balances hormones, lowers cholesterol, and eases vaginal inflammation when eaten in itself, taken as a supplement, or infused in a sitz bath. Black cohosh is another favorite gynecological ingredient due to its menstrual symptom-relieving properties. Tinctures and tablets containing extract of black cohosh are recommended to lower blood pressure and to stimulate the pituitary gland. You can also try cinnamon bark tincture to address the bleeding. Six to twelve drops of it on your tongue or mixed with drinking water or juice and taken thrice daily can do wonders in alleviating lower back pain and treating uterine hemorrhaging.
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