The bleeding can be light (spotting) or heavy. Postmenopausal bleeding is usually due to benign (noncancerous) gynecological conditions such as endometrial polyps. But for about 10% of women, bleeding after menopause is a sign of uterine cancer (endometrial cancer).

What is the most common cause of postmenopausal bleeding?

Causes of postmenopausal bleeding

The most common causes are: inflammation and thinning of the vaginal lining (atrophic vaginitis) or womb lining (endometrial atrophy) – caused by lower oestrogen levels. cervical or womb polyps – growths that are usually non-cancerous.

What type of cancer is associated with postmenopausal bleeding?

In most cases, postmenopausal bleeding is caused by issues such as endometrial atrophy (a thinning of the uterine lining), vaginal atrophy, fibroids, or endometrial polyps. The bleeding could also be a sign of endometrial cancer—a malignancy of the uterine lining, but only in a small number of cases.