Did you know that up to a third of all women will experience abnormal uterine bleeding (1)?
Abnormal uterine bleeding is a term used to refer to irregularities of a woman’s periods in terms of frequency, the volume of blood flow, and duration.
A normal monthly period can last anywhere from 3 to 8 days. Abnormal urine bleeding, on the other hand, can occur anytime between your monthly cycle and is characterized by heavy bleeding.
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Causes
When is abnormal uterine bleeding most common?
This condition can occur at any age. In fact, most women have experienced irregular periods at some point in their life.
Women in their mid-40s or those that are about to get into menopause are more likely to experience this condition. When a girl starts having her periods, they may be irregular but that’s not an indication of abnormal uterine bleeding.
Cause of abnormal uterine bleeding
Most women experience this condition due to hormonal imbalance and often, the causes are dependent on your age.
- Teens, 20s, and 30s- the most common cause during this age is pregnancy and hormonal imbalance.
- 40s and early 50s – thickening of the uterine walls and menopause.
- After menopause – hormonal replacement therapy.
Other abnormal uterine bleeding causes are;
- Polyps and fibroids
- Ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages
- Birth control methods (IUD)
- Endometriosis
- Severe weight loss
- Cervical cancer
- Bleeding disorders
The first thing your gynecologist will do is check for the common problems within your age group and depending on your age, conduct a pregnancy test.
Common tests to diagnose this condition
Some of the tests your doctor will conduct include;
- A CT scan to have a view of the internal organs.
- An ultrasound to have a look at the pelvic organs
- An Endometrial biopsy to get a sample of your endometrium for further analysis under a microscope
- A Hysteroscopy for the ob-gyn to look inside your uterus
- MRI to look at internal organs.
The tests done are also dependent on your age.
Is this condition preventable?
In situations where the abnormal uterine bleeding is caused by hormonal imbalance, it cannot be prevented. There are however times when lifestyle factors contribute to the imbalance, e.g obesity.
In this case, you should strive to maintain a healthy weight.
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Causes: Are There Treatments?
Before your treatment begins, your gynecologist will request an appointment, to determine the best treatment option for you.
Treatment will be dependent on your age group and whether you plan on getting pregnant in the future, in which case if you have no intention of getting another child, a hysterectomy may be recommended.
The unpredictability of abnormal uterine bleeding makes it difficult to live with. Talk to your gynecologist about it for effective remedies.
Links to sources used:
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532913/
