About Menstrual Bleeding After Menopause

If a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, she is considered to be fully menopausal. However, she can resume bleeding after that time, and when she does it is often due to hormonal changes, according to Women to Women, a medical group that specializes in women's health. Changing or ending hormone replacement therapy, for instance, can bring on unexpected bleeding. But post-menopausal bleeding can have other causes, as well.

Insulin Resistance

• Menopausal women who are insulin-resistant run a risk of post-menopausal bleeding, according to Women to Women. Insulin-resistant women tend to produce too much estrogen, throwing off the balance between estrogen and progesterone. These two hormones play integral roles in menstruation, and disproportionate levels can cause post-menopausal bleeding. A proper diet and exercise can relieve the situation.

Uterine Abnormalities

• Post-menopausal bleeding can be the result of a uterine polyp, which can be removed, resolving the problem. Bleeding after menopause may also indicate uterine or cervical cancer, but because bleeding serves as an early heads-up, the cancers have a high cure rate. Another cause of bleeding could be thinning vaginal walls caused by diminished levels of estrogen. Thinner walls are more likely to bleed.

Progesterone Cream

• Some menopausal women use progesterone cream as a way of reintroducing an important hormone back into their body. This cream prompts the uterus to get rid of any pre-existing blood buildup, resulting in temporary bleeding.

Life-Altering Situations

• Stress can have a potent effect on a woman's body. If she is going through seriously bad times or is experiencing life-changing circumstances, this can be so profound that it can prompt her menstrual period to resume. When this occurs, physicians refer to it as a spontaneous bleeding event brought on by excessive stress.

Poor Nutrition

• If a woman has eaten poorly for years and is suffering from vitamin and nutrient deficits as a result, this can cause post-menopausal bleeding, according to Women to Women. Women's bodies, including the hormonal system, which is in flux during menopause, can't operate adequately if they haven't been nourished. The chances that a woman's body will have even graver difficulty transitioning into menopause increases if she is nutritionally deprived.

Drastic Weight Loss

• If a woman decides to lose weight during menopause, she should be smart about it and not do it too quickly. Rapid weight loss can cause bleeding to resume, says Women to Women, because it causes changes in the hormonal equilibrium.