post menopausal bleeding 5 weeks after cortisone injections

I had a cortizone shot in my shoulder two weeks ago atoday day I had slight cramping and light spotting and a few days ago I had breast tenderness. I have not had a period in three years and have had slight spotting about once per year. Had the ultrasound at my regular checkup a few months ago because my mom is a uterine cancer survivor, it is good to hear your personal stores,I will call my doc to be safe, but feel released to hear others experiences.

Well, I suspected that the sudden onset of cramps and menstrual flow were related to the small steroid shot I had in my basal thumb joint 7 days prior.  Flow has lasted 6 days so far.  Reason I suspected this is because of how the cortisone works on the various systems and tissue. But I was still very concerned.  And having had an I - V ultrasound twice before over the years, in similarly timed situations, I'm not going to waste time and money getting this latest one checked unless I keep flowing for more than 5 weeks.  I guess there has to be a cutoff somewhere.   Thanks for all those posts.   And yes, I've been postmenopausal for about 18 years.  But still glad my husband has had a vasectomy! God, I know one woman who conceived at 55 after her cortisone shot shrank the benign ovarian cyst she knew she had, and which was keeping her from ovulating (after 5 kids).  No one warned her, and she had kid #6 at 56!  She and her husband didn't think they needed any protection!

With all of this anecdotal evidence, I think that ortho, derm, gyno and endocrinologist doctors need to take a closer look at (relatively) moderate side effects of localized corticosteroid injections on peri- and post-menopausal women. This would avoid unnecessary cancer scares, surgeries, and other procedures. I'm not sure if there have been any clinical studies on this issue.

I came to this blog after having corticosteroid injections yesterday in my knees. I have been perimenopausal for a few years, but I do still get my period from time to time. But I am not having it now.

The ortho doctor (male) told me there were essentially no side effects to the shots, and my knees feel so much better. But last night, I had some very light spotting, which has gone away. Late in the night, I had terrible insomnia and couldn't get to sleep until 5 am. I woke up in a pool of sweat, despite the fact that I have not had any night sweats with my perimenopause. I have been terribly flushed all day with a nagging headache, also symptoms I haven't had much of. (I've been very lucky with my perimenopause symptoms.)

After drinking tons of ice water and putting cold compresses on my face and neck, I decided to research what could be the cause of my discomfort. Whatever I did seems to have triggered more severe perimenopause symptoms than I normally have. The only thing I have done differently between yesterday and today is have those steroid shots in my knees. After reading all of the entries from you POST-menopausal women, I tend to believe that my PERI-menopausal symptoms are also related (although mine happened almost immediately, while most of yours took a few weeks to show up).

Thank you for all your entries. It does make sense, and it's good to know that there don't seem to be lasting or serious consequences to this temporary treatment.

I wonder if this could also be the cause of abnormal prostate test results, since male prostate issues tend to be linked to women's hormone-based issues. I just realized that my dad had been undergoing regular cortisone shots last year for terrible back pain. During the year, his prostate tests showed concerning results, although it never progressed past that point. I believe he is finished with all the injections now. I plan to ask him how his most recent prostate exam went, although I think my mom told me that his last results were not atypical for a man his age. I find this all very interesting.

I had a cortisone shot on august 31, have not had a peorid snice march 2009,peroid came on {full} nov,17 this was real shocking my question now I wonder will it continue next month I hope NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a 57 yr old female that received a cortisone injection in the hip this past June and another during surgery this past October. I am aware that one possible side effects of steroid injections is breakthrough bleeding, which for me started very light after 5 weeks post op and is now moderate that brings back memories of a normal period. My question is, this has now been going on for 20 days with intermittent cramping. I've had breakthrough bleeding from an injection in the past but never lasted this long nor with cramping. Any insight with this matter will bring me peace if mind. Thank you

Hi. I has 2 cortisone shots last week and one the week before. This past weekend I started spotting for 2 days and cramps and I had not had a period in 2 years. I had blood work done and an ultrasound yesterday. So glad to read that these shots can cause this rather than thinking the worst, though my doctor says that the shots would not cause such. I believe it does but glad I had the test anyway. Do not know the results yet. I go back friday for another shot so it will be interesting to see if I start to cramp and spot again.

I was so relieved to see some of these posts. I had a cortisone shot in my hip two weeks ago and bang on two weeks later I started what has felt like a ' normal period' despite not having these for over 3 years ( I am 53). Saw my Doctor today and she mentioned there could be a connection but has still referred me for more tests. I have completed a 2 week post pain management questionnaire and I will certainly be mentioning this as i was never told this could be a side effect. All very worrying when you read so much about the big 'C' as being a possible cause.

I am so glad I looked into this and found this board. Postmenopausal for 18 months and got a cortisone shot in my foot. 3 weeks later started cramping and then a period. I am so pissed that the doctor didn't tell me even though I asked about side effects. I started to panic but now I don't even think I will see the gyno since I feel pretty confident the cortisone is the culprit.

I had the very same experience as all of you have described.  Went in for a cortisone shot in the knee for arthritic pain, had a week of stomach cramping and bloating ( I thought it was from a change of diet), then low and behold I staarted a period that lasted about a week.  Surprise, surprise... I am 60 and haven't had a period for 5 or 6 years.  The cortisone was the only thing I could put my finger on as being different in my routine and it's comforting to hear that it isn't an uncommon occurance.

My story is a little different. My last period was probably 2yrs ago. Over the past 7 mos I've had a Medrol dose pack, 2 epidural steroid injections (one dexamethsone and one prednisone), microdiscectomy and another 2 rounds of Medrol dose pack ending late Aug.  I had a couple of days of spotting after the first steroid injection. The ortho doc was mildly concerned, said to wait for a month before another injection to make sure it didn't return.

In Dec I started having classic menstrual symptoms: changing cervical mucous, discomfort during ovulation, breast tenderness and then I had a very light period for 4 days.  Doc sent me for ultrasound which was normal except for a suspected benign ovarian cyst and they will repeat soon. GYN did an endometrial biopsy that was also normal but said if I have ANY more bleeding she wants to do a hysteroscopy where she looks insides the uterus and removes all the entire lining and sends to pathology. Again this month I noticed chnage in the cervical mucous, pain like I have with ovulation and, as expected, I started a light period again two days ago. 

It has been much longer since I had the steroids, especially an injection. But steroids affect all your other hormones and this bleeding seems so hormonal.  The D&C is not an innocuous procedure and I really feel like it is overkill given the other test results.

What I'm trying to find out is if patients with bleeding from endometrial cancer have these other hormonal symptoms too?

yes i have had the same,started sept 2012,referred to gynecologist, had all test test done,all came back ok,as i have these injections every 6 months i decided to keep a diary,and 1/2 weeks after injections i started bleeding, i asked the doctor about this situation said he had never heard of this,i had my last injection 25th march, 5th april started bleeding again, this is now 4 time i hope this will give you some reassurance.

I had a cortizone shot in my torn rotator cuff (fun enough) and about 7 to 10 days started spotting. Got worse and started using heavy flow pads. This soon turned into depends with HEAVY bleeding and large clots. Endometrial biopsy (extremely painful), still bleeding. Has been two weeks and so far 1 trip to the ER. Pain enough to go. If you find a cure let me know!

This also happened to me after 12 yrs.

I had my first injection ever 12 days ago and after 2 years of no periods, started cramping and spoting like a light period 2 days ago.  I've made an appointment with my Gyno just to get their opinion.  Quite sure it was the injection too.