JustAnswer > OB GYN
Ask A Question|Register|Login|Help
JustAnswer

OB/GYN

Ask an OB GYN Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own OB GYN question?

3 Doctors are Online Now
characters left:
Not an OB GYN Question?

Related OB GYN Topics:

  • Dry
  • ,
  • Gyn
  • ,
  • May
  • ,
  • Lot
  • ,
  • Pap
  • ,
  • Two
  • ,
  • Back
  • ,
  • Come
  • ,
  • Exam
  • ,
  • List
Bookmark and Share

Question

I am postmenopausal and have been for two years. I went for my yearly PAP and mammogram on April 2, 2009, all returning normal. I also had a rectocele, which was repaired on April 17, 2009. After the rectocele repair I began noticing a slight discharge. I started wearing pantiliners for the discharge. I put it off to something to do with the surgery. A couple months later I was still having the discharge, so I called my GYN, who wanted me to come in for an exam. I thought maybe I had an infection due to the surgery. I was tested for infection but none was found. My GYN said I had atrophic vaginitis and that he could prescribe a hormone cream, which I declined. I thought the discharge would go away in time. It is now November and I am still having the discharge. I called again and he wants me to come in for a re-exam. Is this something that could be serious or could it still be related to the atrophic vaginitis?

Submitted: 117 days and 11 hours ago.
Category: OB GYN
Value: $13
Status: CLOSED
+
Read More

Optional Information

Gender: female
Age: 50

Already Tried:
Just dealing with the discharge, thinking it is due to atrophic vaginitis.

Posted by Monika Hearne, M.D. 117 days and 11 hours ago.

Info Request

Please describe your discharge. Is there an odor/color? Have you resumed intercourse/any problems? Any change in your bowel movements? Any medical problems or surgeries?

117 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

The discharge is sometimes yellow, as before. Sometimes it is a light to dark brown, resembling dried blood. There is no odor. I have not been sexually active for ten years. My bowel movements are better since having the rectocele repair on April 17, 2009. The discharge didn't start until after the surgery.

Posted by Monika Hearne, M.D. 117 days and 11 hours ago.

Answer

Blood may indicate an area that has not healed properly. This usually responds to the hormonal cream as suggested by your physician. I understand your hesitation, however, assuming you have no contraindications in your medical history, hormonal cream will be safe. You will only have to use the cream temporarily, and absorption of the cream into your blood stream is small so the risk of adverse events/side effects are much lower than if you were taking pills by mouth. I would suggest returning to your physician and ask if he can try to determine exactly where the bleeding is coming from. Since there is no odor, I would guess that you do not have a fistula (a tract connecting your rectum to your vagina). But just in case, I think you should have him examine you again to be certain. I hope this helps. Good luck!

117 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

Is is normal to have postmenopausal discharge? I'm not really sure if the discharge is old blood or whether it is just a dark discharge at times. When I called to let my GYN know I was still having the discharge, his nurse called back and said he wanted me to come in. This absolutely scared me because I'm afraid he has made a mistake about atrophic vaginitis and it could possible be a sign of cancer. Please help me to understand. Could this be something serious?

Posted by Monika Hearne, M.D. 117 days and 11 hours ago.

Answer

The discharge should certainly not be dark, so I do think something is off. You didn't list other surgeries, so I am assuming you have not had a hysterectomy. We do worry about cancer of the uterus whenever bleeding returns after menopause, but it certainly isn't always the reason. There could be abnormalities with your uterus that are benign like polyps or fibroids. Also, since your pap smear was normal, I don't think it would be cervical cancer. It definitely could be vaginal irritation due to lack of estrogen or small areas of poor bleeding as stated above. I don't think you should worry. Most times it is not cancer. Smile

117 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

Usually the discharge is a dark yellowish color. I thought I might have urinary leakage, which might make it darker. I do leak urine when I sneeze.

No, I have not had a hysterectomy. I really don't consider the discharge as bleeding, but with the color at times I wondered about dried blood, like when you are just going off your period, but definitely not that dark brown. I've searched all over the internet because of being so frightened and have read many different things, one being the mucosa could be dry and cracked which could cause some bleeding. Do you think that is possible?

I see your little smiley face, which makes me feel somewhat better. I will also let you know that I suffer with depression and bipolar disorder with manic episodes and I worry a lot more than other people do.

If you can think of any other reasons, please share them with me. I am scared to death.

Posted by Monika Hearne, M.D. 117 days and 11 hours ago.

Answer

Your urine leakage is just stress incontinence. If these symptoms are occasional, then you can hold off on treatment. If frequent or you find you at times smell like urine, talk with your doctor about bladder testing and treatment options. There's another simple surgery your doctor can perform for stress incontinence if necessary. Yellow isn't very concerning, but brown could be old blood (or stool as above). Again most cases are benign and treatable so try not to worry. Not worrying may be difficult for you until you get answers, which hopefully you'll receive when you visit your physician. Make sure you write down your questions so that all of them are answered so that you don't go home, realize something and start worrying all over again. I hope this helps.

117 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

Thanks so much for all your help and for being so confident. Hopefully some of this will rub off on me.

You have been really easy to discuss these problems with and I will certainly try again if I think of any other questions. What a great site!

Accepted Answer

Great! I'm glad you're satisfied. Don't forget to click Accept. Thanks.Monika Hearne, M.D.40131.7144832986

Picture
Expert: Monika Hearne, M.D.
Pos. Feedback: 99.6 %
Accepts: 887
Answered: 11/14/2009

OB/GYN (Doctor)

With over five years of experience, I treat my patients like family.

+
Read More

Related OB GYN Questions

  • does the ultrasound detect hen you possibly concieved your
  • I have some red small pimples, some in buttucks all togueter
  • im 17 but i dont have a normal period like other girl's i wi...
  • How much damage is done to a baby if you drink before you kn...
  • I have a problem w/ fluid retention, and have not done well
  • i am trying for a baby, my period is day 3 late, which isnt
  • Dr. is it canser if extra piece of dark flappy skin is surro...
  • i had a hysterectomy with removall of ovaries cervix and tub...



Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.
Question List | Become an Expert | Terms of Service | Security & Privacy | About Us
© 2003-2010 JustAnswer Corp.