Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[mforest]

Hi, I’m new here and grateful to have found such insight.
 
Trying to make informed decision about having a biopsy???
I’m 54 perimenopausal, last year started skipping periods (2-3months) no spotting or heavy bleeds. 
Last natural cycle two months ago, ultrasound right before period lining was 7mm.  Dr put me on bio progesterone 14 day cyclic. 
Ultrasound yesterday week after withdrawal bleed lining 5mm. No polyps or fibroids, although ovaries have shrunk since last ultrasound. 
Dr. suggested biopsy: advanced age, still bleeding etc. 
She keeps asking if I have hot flashes, I don’t, some light warm spells but no night sweats. 
Also confused with progesterone for cyclic bleeds to shed lining when do you stop to see if you’re in menopause?

Thanks

[laszla]

I have no idea why a biopsy would be recommended, there seem no grounds for it whatsoever - it is normal to bleed, whether sporadically or regularly at your age and older (51 is an average age, hence some women will be bleeding up to 60). Your lining is thin and you have no polyps or fibroids.
Loads of women have no hot flushes.
Are you taking oestrogen too?

Have you had a blood test to see what your oestrogen and FSH levels are?
An endometrial biopsy is no fun - I recently had one - and is warranted only if you have a considerably thicker lining and abnormal bleeding. I had 2 scans with a 10-11 mm lining and it was only on the third one that they gave me hysteroscopy and biopsy - which turned up nothing abnormal.
Also you are supposed to have a scan right after the bleed when lining has shed...

[mforest]

Thank you for your reply and insight. 
My blood work last week showed FSH was much higher and estrogen much lower than previous blood work six months ago. 
The 5mm was 7 days after cyclic bleed…I thought great the lining is getting less.  Now thinking my age and being approx 30lbs overweight is driving the biopsy suggestion as risk factors.  It’s not easy making decisions about testing and trying to determine what is really necessary.  Plus trying to figure out what is considered abnormal bleeding. 

[sheila99]

Oh dear, another ignorant gp, probably heard the fairy tale that everyone is meno by 54. A similar thing happened to me, aged 60 asked gp about about lack of bleeding on cyclical hrt and mentioned the 2 periods I'd had recently. Urgent 2 week pathway for 'unexplained bleeding', scan followed by biopsy (yes, it hurts). I asked them if they'd have done the same if I'd been 10 years younger and they said no.
Does the bleeding feel like genuine periods? Anything that makes you think it's abnormal bleeding?
IMO they're probably covering their backs as long as the bleeding is what you'd expect.

[mforest]

I am starting to understand how many practitioners are not equipped in dealing with those of us who are still peri past the magic textbook age of 55!
In my case, it’s not just with menopause…it’s anytime they see a middle age women.  Even with preventative appts and being in good health they start to pick at every little thing. 

Thanks for letting me vent!  Going to get couple more medical opinions in regard to biopsy. 

[CLKD]

Dr. suggested biopsy: advanced age, still bleeding etc.

Why does your GP think that, with all things being within normal limits, that you require a biopsy? 

If lining is 5mm or less, there really shouldn't be any requirement unless you are bleeding for weeks on end ........... could you get an appt with a menopause specialist?