Uterine Bleeding

Uterine Bleeding General Information

The reasons for Uterine Bleeding are numerous, and generally depend on the age of the patient. Typically, it is caused by a hormone imbalance (too much estrogen or insufficient progesterone) can cause this. Another cause for abnormal bleeding may be fibroids or polyps in the uterus, or cancer or a cervical infection. There have been cases of abnormal Uterine Bleeding that were caused by thyroid problems. Teenagers and young women may experience abnormal bleeding due to pregnancy, birth control pills or devices, or if an egg is not released at the appropriate stage during the menstrual cycle. Women approaching menopause have months when they do not ovulate, which can also be a reason for abnormal bleeding. Also, the lining of the uterus can become thicker and also cause abnormal bleeding in this period of a woman’s life, which may be an early sign of uterine cancer.

After menopause, one of the common causes for abnormal Uterine Bleeding is the hormone replacement therapy. Also uterine cancer and a thick lining of the uterus may also cause such bleeding. While uterine cancer is a far more common cause at this stage than in younger women, it is not always the cause. There are multiple other possible reasons for abnormal bleeding after menopause. There are several other reasons for abnormal bleeding which are not presented here. It is advised that you contact your specialized health care professional immediately if you are experiencing abnormal bleeding, in order to further investigate the exact causes of the disturbance and determine the appropriate course of action to be taken.

Uterine Bleeding Symptoms

The notion of abnormal Uterine Bleeding typically covers any blood loss that is considerably larger or smaller compared to your normal bleeding during a regular menstrual cycle. Generally most of the blood loss takes place during the first three days of the menstrual cycle; however it is possible to lose exceptionally large quantities of blood within the regular menstrual timeframe.

More specifically, the Uterine Bleeding should be considered excessive if it occurs less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart – although a normal teenage menstruation timeframe can extend to up to 45 days. Also, while normal bleeding is known to last from 4 to 6 days, any bleeding that spans for over 7 days should be considered abnormal. Regarding the quantity of lost blood, any bleeding of 80 ml or more should be considered excessive, as the average quantity lost per menstrual cycle is of around 30 ml. Blood clots or severe bleeding with soaking the regular tampons or pads should be immediately brought to the attention of the specialized health care professional, as it may be a symptom of severe disorder.

While in some cases it is just a passing situation and should return to normal after a few days, abnormal Uterine Bleeding can be the sign of serious medical conditions and should be investigated immediately. If you are having an abnormal bleeding, it is highly advised that you consult with your personal specialized health care professional to further investigate and identify the cause of the bleeding, and determine the appropriate course of action to be taken.

Uterine Bleeding Treatment

Generally an abnormal Uterine Bleeding is the sign of an underlining medical condition. Treatment for this affection largely depends on the condition that is causing the excessive bleeding. It is highly advised that you check with your personal specialized health care professional to determine what is causing the bleeding, and to set up the treatment for the condition. The treatment may imply a drug therapy, surgery or other medical procedures, depending largely on your age, medical history and general health condition. For more information on your affection as well as for more information regarding the treatment and the reasons you have been prescribed that particular treatment, it is advised that you consult with your examining physician.

There are cases when the Uterine Bleeding does not appear to be related to any other medical condition. In such cases the bleeding is regularly treated with hormones (either a combination of progesterone and estrogen, or progesterone by itself), most of the time administered under the form of an oral contraceptive. In cases when the patient experiences severe or regular abnormal Uterine Bleeding, it is advised that the physician monitors the patient for signs of other affections such as anemia. A nutritional supplement may be prescribed, such as iron supplements. Severe bleeding may be treated with non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, naproxen or ibuprofen), as they help relieving the menstrual pains and also may reduce bleeding.

A common practice that was used in treating abnormal Uterine Bleeding in women that had already given birth, as an alternative to hysterectomy, was endometrial ablation – a procedure that aimed to destroy the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) either with heat or electricity, while the patient was under local or general anesthesia. Currently, the procedure has been discontinued and replaced with what is called the thermal balloon ablation – a procedure which is also aimed at destroying the lining of the uterus, but in order to do so the procedure relies on a balloon filled with heated liquid. Once the procedure is complete, the endometrium heals by scarring, reducing or eliminating the possibility of future bleeding. In many cases after the uterine lining is destroyed, the patient also develops amenorrhea, but the most important consequence related to this procedure is that in a very large number of the cases it also renders the patient infertile. However, please note that this procedure does not guarantee infertility, so if you wish to avoid pregnancy, it is best that you rely on contraceptives.

A single passing episode of excessive Uterine Bleeding in non-pregnant women is not necessarily a sign of any health related problems, and should not require treatment. However, if the bleeding is severe or prolonged, it should not be neglected. In most cases, any sign of abnormal bleeding should be presented to the specialized health care professional for further checking.