Post-Menopausal Bleeding Pathway

Your journey with post-menopausal bleeding

This guide will help you know what to expect as you work with your healthcare team to manage and treat post-menopausal bleeding.

You will have your own journey with post-menopausal bleeding. How you move through your journey, the number of visits with your healthcare team, the steps you take, and the order you take them in will depend on your needs. You will make decisions in partnership with your healthcare team. Always follow your healthcare team’s advice.

What is post-menopausal bleeding?

Menopause is the point in your life when you have not had a menstrual period for 1 year. Menopause usually happens around age 50. But everyone’s body is different.

You may stop having periods in your mid-40s. Or keep having periods well into your 50s.

When you enter menopause, are not taking hormone therapy, and are no longer having menstrual periods, any uterine bleeding is abnormal.

What causes post-menopausal bleeding?

There can be many causes, including:

thinning of the tissues that line the vagina and uterus
cancer or precancerous changes in the lining of the uterus
growths such as polyps or fibroids
infection of the uterus
medicines such as blood thinners or anticoagulants

Whole-person health

The whole-person health approach will help you and your healthcare team better manage your health condition.

A person is at the centre of a circle with 4 equal, blended parts showing physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial and social parts of health.

Whole-person health draws from the teachings of the medicine wheel. It means thinking about all parts of your health and wellness:

physical
financial and social
spiritual
emotional

These parts are all connected and impact each other. It’s important to be aware of your personal needs in each part and to share that information with your healthcare team. Your healthcare team needs to understand who you are and what matters to you.

Support and resources

If you need a family doctor, visit Alberta Health Services: Find a doctor.
If you need a translator, let your healthcare provider know.
If you need health advice any time, day or night, call Health Link at 811.
If you need to find programs and services in your community, call or text 211 or visit 211 Alberta.

Kidney stone pathway map

Post-Menopausal Bleeding Pathway

Download or print the full patient pathway (PDF) and summary (one-page PDF) to learn more about how to manage and treat post-menopausal bleeding.
Patient Pathway Summary

Current as of: November 21, 2023

Author: Provincial Pathways Unit, Alberta Health Services

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This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.

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