Yes — please see a gynaecologist. This is not overreacting; it is exactly the right response.

Any return of bleeding after a gap of six months or more, particularly at 48 when you may be approaching the end of perimenopause, warrants a proper evaluation. The reason: while in most cases this will turn out to be late perimenopause — the ovaries producing one final hormonal surge — bleeding after a prolonged gap can also indicate other causes that are important to identify.

These include endometrial hyperplasia (an abnormal thickening of the uterine lining, usually benign but sometimes associated with risk if untreated), fibroids or polyps, or, in a small number of cases, endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer is very treatable when caught early — which is why the guidance is to investigate rather than assume.

Your gynaecologist will most likely start with a pelvic ultrasound to measure the thickness of the endometrial lining. A lining thickness below 4mm after a gap of this kind is generally reassuring. If the lining is thicker than expected, or if there are other concerning features, they may recommend an endometrial biopsy — a brief, outpatient procedure that samples the lining for laboratory analysis.

Getting checked takes a short appointment. Not getting checked leaves uncertainty that often grows in the mind over time. Please make the call.