Why does womb cancer cause bleeding after menopause?

After menopause, menstrual bleeding should have stopped. Womb cancer develops in the inner lining, where abnormal tissue may grow unevenly and contain delicate blood vessels. That tissue can break down or become irritated, causing spotting or bleeding even though regular cycles have ended.

Bleeding after menopause can also have non-cancerous causes, such as thinning tissue, polyps, hormone treatment, or infection. The symptom alone cannot identify the cause, but any bleeding after menopause should be checked.

Contact a doctor or gynaecologist promptly, even if the bleeding is slight or happens only once. Tell them when it started, whether it followed sex, how much blood you saw, and whether you use hormone therapy or medicines that affect bleeding. Evaluation may involve an examination, ultrasound, and a sample of the womb lining.

Seek urgent care for heavy or persistent bleeding, faintness, marked weakness, severe pain, or symptoms suggesting significant blood loss. If you are otherwise well, arrange a prompt appointment rather than waiting to see whether the bleeding returns.

Ask which tests are appropriate, whether the womb lining needs sampling, what other causes are possible, and how quickly you should receive follow-up.