Literally, spotting after menopause refers to the spotting or bleeding experienced by a woman on her post-menopause years.

Typically, a woman who still has her uterus can only be confirmed to be in post-menopause stage once she has gone 12 full months with no flow at all and do not have even any spotting at all.  And so, having spotting or bleeding after your menopause might mean something.

Possible Causes for Spotting after Menopause

Normally, as women come close to menopause the menstrual bleeding pattern alters with periods normally becoming lighter and shorter in extent. And so, once that you are in menopause and post menopause, supposedly, there would actually be no more bleeding at all!

However, sometimes there can be unexpected bleeding or spotting for some reasons. Here are some possible causes:

1. Decline in the estrogen levels in menopause. This condition causes the vaginal mucosa to become thinner, dryer and less elastic and inclined to bleed. Sometimes this lining can be broken or easily inflamed and bleed. Sometimes it may also be caused by a sexual intercourse.
2. Synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT. One of the most common causes of bleeding or spotting after menopause, most especially estrogen replacement therapy.
   During Hormone Replacement Therapy, uterine lining of a woman is greatly affected because it is very sensitive to estrogen. And thus, in order to release this lining, bleeding and spotting usually occurs. In which usually, in a normal menstrual cycle, the lining that builds up is discharged through menstruation.
3. Development of polyps and fibroids. These are benign growths that develop in the uterine cavity. Polyps are most often associated with irregular light spotting, staining or light bleeding. Fibroids may also produce the same light symptoms but are also associated with much heavier bleeding.
4. Overgrowths of lining of the uterus called Hyperplasias. May also be the grounds for abnormal post menopausal spotting and bleeding. This condition can have some serious potential to be severe.
   

Important Health Precautions

Unusual post menopausal bleeding may mean a serious illness. As a matter of fact, Endometrial Hyperplasia, the abnormal thickening of the uterine wall may show a pre-cancerous condition, has the most significant symptoms which accompanied by abnormal bleeding. Endometrial cancer is the highest prevalence of cancer in post menopausal women. In fact, about 20% of women suffer from this condition.

And so, if you are having symptoms of spotting and bleeding after menopause, and you are concerned about being at threat for a more serious complication, then make sure you see your doctor as soon as possible for regular Pap smears and other examinations every six to twelve months.