Abnormal menstrual bleeding

Causes of abnormal uterine bleeding

Many different things can cause abnormal uterine bleeding. Pregnancy, polyps and fibroids (small and large growths) in the uterus, infection of the cervix, or cancer of the uterus as well as thyroid problems can cause abnormal bleeding. For most women, imbalance is causing abnormal uterine bleeding by a hormone. During a normal menstrual cycle, levels of various female hormones are made by your body up and down. Estrogen and progesterone are two very important hormones.

Ovulation

Ovulation is the part of the normal menstrual cycle when an egg is released from the ovaries. The most common cause of dysfunctional uterine bleeding is if your ovaries release an egg. In this case, the hormone levels are not the same in your body, causing your time later or earlier and heavier than normal. Abnormal bleeding by hormone imbalance is more common in teens or in women, the menopause approach.

Common causes

These are just some of the problems that can cause abnormal uterine bleeding. These problems can occur at any age, but the most likely cause of abnormal uterine bleeding usually depends on your age:

A woman in their teens, 20s and 30s years - a common cause of abnormal bleeding in young women and adolescents is pregnancy. Some birth control pills or the IUD may lead also abnormal bleeding. Some young women, no egg from ovary removal (called ovulation) freely creating abnormal menstrual bleeding during their overall, a hormone imbalance where the estrogen in your body your uterus to thick makes. This is common for young people, who have just started their periods. During a cycle, the bleeding will be very difficult. Hormone imbalances may also your body does not know when, to shed the lining. This allows to irregular bleeding ("spotting") between the periods.
A woman in their 40s and early 50s years - in the years before menopause and the beginning of menopause, women have months, if it does not cause ovulation abnormal menstrual bleeding. Thickening of the uterus is another cause of abnormal bleeding. In some cases, a warning of uterine cancer is this thickening. If you have abnormal menstrual bleeding and you are in this age group, talk to your doctor cervical cancer be ruled out.
A common cause of menstrual bleeding is women after the menopause - hormone replacement therapy after menopause. Other causes are cancer, endometrial and uterine. These cancers are more common in older women, but are not always the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding. Talk to your doctor you have bleeding after menopause.

Dysfunktionalen uterine bleeding symptoms

A woman with dysfunctional uterine bleeding - bleeding as a result of a hormonal imbalance - may the following changes in their menstrual cycle fest:

Bleeding or spotting from the vagina occurs between periods
Menstrual periods may be less than 28 days or more than 35 days apart
Irregularity of menstrual cycles
Bleeding is severe including: passing of large lumps, need protection overnight and absorb of a pad or tampon every hour for 2 to 3 hours in a line change
Bleeding lasts for more days than normal or for more than 7 days

Other symptoms that are due to changes in hormone levels:

Excessive growth of body hair in a male pattern
Hot flashes
Mood swings
Tenderness and dryness of the vagina
A woman can feel fatigue or tiredness, if she lose too much blood in the course of time and is anemic

Tests & diagnosis

Your OB/GYN doctor is a gynecological exam and can recommend lab tests, including:

Complete blood count (CBC)
Blood clotting profile
Hormone tests
Follicle - stimulating hormone (FSH)
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Male hormone (androgen) level
Prolactin
Progesterone
Serum or urine parameters HCG (to exclude pregnancy)
Thyroid function tests
Culture to look for infection

Common procedures

In addition to the pelvic exam and lab tests, the provider can the following procedures for the diagnosis of the issue including recommend:

Endometrial biopsy to infections, Precancer or cancer to search, or help, decide on an appropriate hormone treatment.
Hysteroscopy is an Office procedure where the doctor adds a flexible tube with a light and a tiny camera at the end into the uterus through the vagina.
TRANS vaginal ultrasound can be done to find abnormalities in the uterus or pelvis.

Treatment

Non-surgical options

Young people are often not treated, if symptoms are very strictly, like for example heavy blood loss causing anemia. In other women, the aims of the treatment of menstrual cycle control. Some treatments include:

Oral birth control pills or progesterone only pills
An intrauterine device (IUD), which the hormone progestin free

Surgical options

If a woman is pregnant, they can drugs be promoting ovulation. OB/GYN doctors can for those whose symptoms are severe and not respond to other therapies, alternative treatments, including surgery to offer. Surgical treatment options include:

Endometrial ablation or resection (cauterizing) to destroy or remove the uterus will often stop or reduce the amount of menstrual bleeding
Hysterectomy - less frequently performed than in the past
C and D - for diagnosis and polyps to remove