Dame Kelly Holmes is renowned for being strong and resilient, both on and off the track, but in a recent episode of Dr Naomi Potter’s podcast, Is It Hot in Here?, the double Olympic gold champion opened up about a recent worrying health experience she had; post-menopausal bleeding. Sharing her story on her Instagram in the hope of helping other women, Dame Kelly emphasises the importance of seeking medical advice if you experience unexpected bleeding after menopause.
Post-menopausal bleeding: What it means and why you shouldn’t ignore it
During her conversation on the podcast with Dr Potter, Dame Kelly revealed that she had been experiencing post-menopausal spotting and bleeding. Now let’s be honest, a lot of women have, in their lifetimes, experienced random bleeding or spotting that has seemingly come out of nowhere. And, as women, all too often we ignore it and hope it’ll go away. However, it can signify underlying health issues that need to be addressed, particularly if it occurs post-menopause.
Dame Kelly’s revelation prompted an urgent warning from Dr Potter, who stressed that any bleeding after 12 months of no periods needs to be investigated.
“If you're not on HRT and you have 12 months with no bleed, then you are considered postmenopausal,” she explained. “But if you then have bleeding after that, you should get that investigated.”
She also added that while post-menopausal bleeding can have many causes, from vaginal thinning to cervical abrasions, it’s always important to rule out anything more serious. “If you go to your GP, they will send you to a gynaecologist. They'll send you quite quickly. There is a two-week wait pathway for post-menopausal bleeding essentially to pick up the very few who have something that is going on with their endometrium. But we [doctors] like to see you quickly and take a look.”
Dame Kelly Holmes’ immediate action
Taking this advice on board, Dame Kelly immediately sought medical attention. She later shared on Instagram that she had undergone surgery and received her results. Thankfully, it turned out to be a benign endometrial polyp.
“Got my results back and basically it was a benign endometrial polyp! - phew,” she wrote. “Thank goodness it wasn’t left as that’s when it can become cancerous. So please get checked everyone, as soon as you think something does not feel like your normal!”
She also shared that she is experiencing heavy bleeding post-surgery, which she was told is normal for up to six weeks. Even so, on the day she posted her video on Instagram she had bled through a pair of cream tracksuit bottoms, to which she explained that she didn’t expect it to be so heavy. She was also in a lot of pain but was taking all pain relief she could. Despite the discomfort, she remains grateful that she acted quickly: “BUT I WOULD TAKE THIS ANYDAY OVER WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN.”
The wider conversation around women’s health
Beyond her experience with post-menopausal bleeding, Dame Kelly also spoke about the wider issue of women’s health in midlife, including the massive changes that some women can experience. She shared that despite her background as an athlete and her years in the military, menopause hit her hard, and described the frustration of watching her body change and struggling to accept that she could no longer perform at the same level.
“I went from being a world-class athlete to unable to do a single press-up once I hit menopause,” she admitted. She also spoke about the lack of discussion around women’s health in both sport and the military, highlighting how many women suffer in silence due to a lack of education and support.
Dame Kelly and Dr Potter's discussion is a reminder that even the fittest, strongest women can face unexpected health challenges during menopause, and it can vary from person to person. Some women deal with debilitating physical symptoms such as hot flushes, aching joints, and hair loss. Other women find their mental wellbeing takes a battering, with brain fog, depression or mood swings causing issues when they haven't before. Sometimes you need to change your diet in menopause to avoid unwanted weight gain, or adopt different exercise habits.
There is menopause support available for symptoms no matter if you're in perimenopause or post-menopause. HRT is just one option, which may or may not be suitable. It's important to discuss your symptoms with a doctor, nurse, or menopause specialist to decide what the right course of treatment is for you, and of course, if anything seems not right, please do seek medical help right away.
If you experience any bleeding after menopause, don’t hesitate to see your doctor. As Dr Potter highlighted, the NHS has a two-week referral pathway for post-menopausal bleeding, ensuring you get the care you need quickly.
Dame Kelly’s story is a powerful example of why we must advocate for our health, listen to our bodies, and seek further advice when something doesn’t feel right. So if you ever experience unexpected bleeding, take her advice and get it checked out.
Dr Naomi Potter is one of the UK’s leading menopause experts, co-author of Menopausing with Davina McCall and founder of the Menopause Care clinic (the UK’s largest team of British Menopause Society accredited doctors and specialists). Is it Hot in Here? is available on all podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify) as well as YouTube.
Becky Fuller is a senior digital writer for Yours.co.uk. She is also a fully qualified personal trainer and strength coach, specialising in fitness and wellbeing for over 50s. Prior to joining Yours, Becky was a fitness writer for Saga, and a freelance entertainment and theatre journalist. Becky is passionate about helping people to move well and discover the many benefits of strength training.