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What Causes Bloody Vaginal Discharge In A 98 Year Old Woman?
Question: My 98 year old mother is having what looks like a bloody vaginal discharge. What should I do?
Brief Answer:
Let her be evaluated by her OBGYN!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I am so sorry to hear about this bloody vaginal discharge. At her age, I will like to see this evaluated by her OBGYN. This could be caused by an infection, vaginal dryness or other disease conditions. Only a good exam will be able to tell what the exact cause is and treat accordingly.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be. Above all, thanks for using our services.
Let her be evaluated by her OBGYN!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I am so sorry to hear about this bloody vaginal discharge. At her age, I will like to see this evaluated by her OBGYN. This could be caused by an infection, vaginal dryness or other disease conditions. Only a good exam will be able to tell what the exact cause is and treat accordingly.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be. Above all, thanks for using our services.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
It makes sense that you would recommend she see her OB/GYN doctor. However, she no longer has an OB/GYN. She has really acute immobility because of very advanced rheumatoid arthritis and within the last year a precipitous drop of cognitive processing abilities. She has no temperature and is otherwise asymptomatic. Is there something palliative that we could do to spare her diagnostic testing that would be extremely grueling and traumatic for her? If it is as you say an other disease condition (like uterine cancer e.g.) is it not likely that it would be so slow growing that treatment would not be recommended anyway?
Brief Answer:
Cancer is possible but there are many other options, too!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I will recommend that she gets evaluated. The exact management plan will depend on the diagnosis and what her wishes are. However, no doctor would want to undertake aggressive measures in someone who is already her age and probably with a mental state which is no longer at its best. But before making such decisions, we need to be sure of what we are dealing with. This could be a simple infection that needs just antibiotics for treatment and without evaluation, we may never do it right.
I hope this is clear. I understand your reasoning, which is totally okay, but will like to obtain more details before we have that discussion.
I wish you well.
Cancer is possible but there are many other options, too!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I will recommend that she gets evaluated. The exact management plan will depend on the diagnosis and what her wishes are. However, no doctor would want to undertake aggressive measures in someone who is already her age and probably with a mental state which is no longer at its best. But before making such decisions, we need to be sure of what we are dealing with. This could be a simple infection that needs just antibiotics for treatment and without evaluation, we may never do it right.
I hope this is clear. I understand your reasoning, which is totally okay, but will like to obtain more details before we have that discussion.
I wish you well.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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