Hello, I would be happy to assist you.

Would you characterize the odor as fishy or metallic?

When was your last pelvic exam/pap smear?

When was your last period? Do you use tampons? Was your last pap smear normal?

So your periods are irregular?

Well, your bloody discharge warrants an examination, pap smear, and ultrasound. Commonly, women who are perimenopausal develop fibroids or polyps that cause abnormal bleeding. Fibroids may also cause pelvic discomfort/pain and pain with intercourse. An ovarian cyst can also cause a bloody discharge, particularly ovarian cancer as well. Cancer is rare and I don't want to scare you. However, it is something we would want to rule out with the above tests and possibly an endometrial biopsy as well.

and blood tinged, right?

Then all of the above is true. However, if everything is normal. Most likely you have atrophic vaginitis, which is a change in the vaginal tissues that develops when estrogen levels are low. Your doctor will have to exclude other causes with the above tests and if normal can prescribe you estrogen cream to return your vagina to normal.

I wish you the best. If you have additional questions, please ask. If none, please click "Accept." Thank you.