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angel4foru

Menopause....or not??

angel4foru
11 years ago

I am 42 - had my last "official" period in 8/10 so I was only 40 then. In 12/10 I had 2 days of spotting, then in 3/11 I had 3 days of spotting, in 10/11 I had over a week of spotting and bleeding and it was more like a period with breast pain for two weeks or so before that happened. Now starting yesterday on 4/3/12 I started spotting again and have having some cramping. I swear I felt PMS'y the other day too. All along I have been having this watery or clear discharge pretty consistently. I've been told I have vaginal atrophy. I had my pap test recently which was fine. Told her about the discharge and she didn't make much of it. I had my mammogram recently and an ultrasound due to having dense breasts and have some small nodules that I've been told are just benign - 2 on the left and one on the right that measured up to 8mm. I also have some lumpy breast tissue that does cause me discomfort. I had seen a breast specialist just in case and she said my breasts are still dense and like those of a woman still menstruating. My hormones have been checked a few times and always FSH is high and estrogen is fairly low - probably since the beginning of 2011 everytime they were checked which was maybe twice in the last year or so.

I guess my question is I am in menopause or still perimenopause? Is this bleeding being caused by weird hormonal shifts or my atrophy? Should I be worried about cancer? Most gyn's (and I've seen many over the last 1 1/2 years because I've moved and have not found one I like) say that I am considered post menopausal since my last period was in 8/10. But I thought you had to go 12 months with no bleeding, not even spotting. So now they are trying to push me for a biopsy but I don't know if I need to do that. Back in October 2011 when I had the heavier bleeding an ultrasound was done and my lining was only 2.9mm. My thought is to do another ultrasound now and if the lining is still thin I really don't need a biopsy. I am really nervous to do the biopsy as I have anxiety and it is painful due to my atrophy to have even a vaginal exam. Also thinking since I am only 42 that my body and hormones really have not settled down completely yet and that is why I keep getting this bleeding and/or spotting every so often - anywhere from 3-7 months apart.

So just wondering other's opinions and if I am considered post menopausal or still perimenopausal. Seeing the blood suddenly again can throw you into a state of panic. Thank you....this is some crazy journey we all go through!

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