Suggest Treatment For Hot Flashes And Delayed Periods

Posted on Sat, 21 Mar 2015

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

Sat, 21 Mar 2015 Answered on

Mon, 13 Apr 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi - I am 58 and have had one period in the last 15 months (9 months ago). Last spring and summer I experienced a good deal of hot flashes during the day and night that made me think I am likely in menopause. Lately, however, I have experienced a great deal of clear mucus discharge (like the type I would look for as a predictor of fertility in my younger years, though not as stretchy - just clear, very wet and very plentiful) I had my last baby at 45, and in the years following, I was always on guard about possible pregnancy. I know with my age this sounds like a crazy question, but could this mucus, and lack of hot flashes experienced months ago, mean I could possibly be fertile? Thank you for taking the time to read and answer this.

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Workup suggested will clarify.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
I understand your confusion.
Generally after menopause, the vaginal discharge is almost scanty to none.
At 58, your being fertile sounds improbable, almost impossible.
Fortunately, rather than speculating, there is a clear cut objective method of knowing whether you are menopausal ( and thus not fertile ).
Just get 3 hormone levels checked - FSH, LH, Serum estradiol.
The results will clearly tell you where you stand.
Also , a few women continue to have good amount of vaginal discharge after menopause too, also, a few cervical conditions could cause this - a cervical polyp, erosion etc for example.
It is a good idea to get these hormones measured to know where you stand with respect to menopause, and also to have an internal exam, a Pap smear and a pelvic ultrasound scan to rule out other causes of this excessive discharge.
All the best
Please feel free to discuss further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (2 days later)

Thank you very much for your reply, it makes a lot of sense to me. One question: Does this give a reading that would say that I am definitely menopausal, or is it an indication of where I am when the test occurred? The reason I am asking is I have read that if a woman is in peri-menopause, sometimes an egg can be released randomly and possibly be fertilized. Would the blood tests you recommended rule out that possibility? Thank you for considering this question.

Sorry - I just responded with a question a minute ago and forgot to add something. Close to a year ago and into the summer months I was experiencing hot flashes during the day and ones that would wake me up at night, that made me think I was surely in menopause. I haven't had a hot flash in months, and I randomly experience breast tenderness and often the presence of mucus, like I did when I felt I was fertile. My last period was 9 months ago. Before that one, I was without a period for 6 months, and prior to that I was menstruating on a regular basis.

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, to a great extent it would rule out that possibility.

Detailed Answer:
See the tests would tell you if you are definitely menopausal, or in the transition zone, or not menopausal.
Yes to a great extent it would tell you if you are able to ovulate.
Please get the tests done and upload the results, I would try to definitively answer your questions in relation to ovulation.
Take care.

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