Experienced Vaginal Spotting. Taking Coumadin. Also Taking Medications For Heart And Lung Conditions. Cause For Spotting?

Posted on Tue, 3 Sep 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 3 Sep 2013 Answered on

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello, my mother, age 79, experienced vaginal spotting for two days last week, and it completely stopped. It has been over a week since she had any spotting. She is on coumadin (since July 2012), and also on many other meds for heart and lung conditions. We are taking her to a gynecologist next week to try and investigate the cause of the spotting, which so far has been an isolated event. Any other advice?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
An ultrasound and biopsy would be needed

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for using healthcare magic

At your mother's age, any vaginal bleeding has to be investigated even if it is for a short period.

The bleeding is usually related to the endometrium which is the inner lining of the uterus.

Though it can be related to benign conditions (non cancerous) , more serious causes such as endometrial cancer have to be ruled out first.

The benign causes are endometrial polyps , endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial atrophy. Endometrial polyps are out growths on the endometrium.

Endometrial hyperplasia refers to increase thickness of the endometrium and atrophy refers to thinning.

The doctor may suggest and ultrasound to assess the thickness of the endometrium and also an endometrial biopsy.

The treatment would depend on the cause found.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any additional questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar