Menopausal, Bleeding Heavily. Pap Smear Test Was Abnormal For Squamous Cells. Possibility Of Cervical Cancer?

Posted on Fri, 31 May 2013

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

Fri, 31 May 2013 Answered on

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I am a 51 yr old female who is post menopausal. I have been bleeding, (like a period) for at least 6 months. I have gone to see a doctor and was told that because I have never had children, my cervix is closed and way up there and difficult to look into. I did have a pap smear which came back abnormal for squamous cells. I am scheduled for some kind of biopsy & possible D & C. Is it possible I have cervical cancer?

Answered by Dr. Sree Gouri SR (28 minutes later)

Hi,
Thanks for the query.

The possible causes for postmenopausal bleeding are:
-Endometrial abnormalities
-Cervical causes like growths, erosion etc.
-fibroids, polyps etc.
Any type of postmenopausal bleeding should be evaluated carefully.
So better to go for cervical and endometrial biopsy as your doctor suggested.
And also just by examination and pap smear we cannot come to one conclusion regarding the carcinoma of cervix.
Because with advancing age the tissue pattern will change to some extent.
So don't worry, possibly the biopsy will find out the exact cause for your problem.
Hope I have answered your query. I will be available to answer your follow up queries. If you are satisfied with all my answer, please rate the answer after closing the discussion.
Take care.

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