Managing your menstrual cycle can be a challenge, and having abnormal uterine bleeding can make it even harder.
Once known as menometrorrhagia, abnormal uterine bleeding comprises two conditions that sound similar to the former umbrella term:
Both issues are worth discussing with your doctor if you're experiencing either of them.
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Abnormal uterine bleeding can describe two different conditions: excessive bleeding (menorrhagia) and bleeding between periods (metrorrhagia).
Doctors define menorrhagia as menstrual bleeding that lasts for more than seven days or is heavier than usual. If you're changing pads more than once an hour, you might be experiencing menorrhagia. Menorrhagia is also called heavy menstrual bleeding.
Metrorrhagia is defined as irregular intervals of bleeding between periods. In other words, you have your normal period but experience bleeding again soon after or earlier than your next cycle should begin. This condition is likely to be less severe but could be a sign of polyps or a hormonal imbalance.
Abnormal uterine bleeding usually isn't a serious condition, but you should report any changes to your menstrual cycle to your doctor. In rare cases, abnormal uterine bleeding is a sign of cancer or tumors in the uterus.
Menorrhagia, or heavy menstrual bleeding, is a very common condition, affecting 10 million — or one in five — women in the U.S. alone.
Excessive or irregular uterine bleeding may occur for a number of reasons.
These include:
Abnormal uterine bleeding can affect anyone with a cervix, but it shouldn't affect women who've already experienced menopause.
Although abnormal uterine bleeding isn't an inherited condition, it may be a result of hemophilia, which is an inherited blood clotting disorder.
Abnormal uterine bleeding has also been linked to:
If left untreated, abnormal uterine bleeding is linked to pelvic pain and general discomfort.
Even though menorrhagia is a common condition, it can be a sign of a serious underlying issue. Be sure to report any symptoms you're experiencing to your doctor.
Abnormal uterine bleeding can come in different forms, but key symptoms are having a menstrual flow that:
If your symptoms persist into another menstrual period, you should tell your gynecologist or women's health provider. If you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you should alert your doctor immediately about any unexpected changes to your menstrual cycle.
Keeping track of your menstrual cycle and flow on a consistent basis can help you catch any changes that might occur.
Your gynecologist will typically be the one to diagnose your condition. They'll check your symptoms and ask about your medical history, history of pregnancy, use of contraceptives, and family medical history.
Your doctor may order any number of tests to confirm the cause of your abnormal uterine bleeding. These might include simple or routine tests, or more invasive measures if they can’t find the cause of the abnormal bleeding.
The tests your doctor may order include:
Doctors have a few methods for treating abnormal uterine bleeding. Which one they use depends on the severity and cause of your condition.
For abnormal uterine bleeding that stems from a hormone imbalance, your doctor most likely will prescribe you another form of contraception that can help better regulate your hormones. This may be a pill you take orally or an injection. They may also prescribe an iron supplement or ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling as well as the amount of bleeding.
This treatment can lead to nausea and vomiting, which can be exacerbated by orally taken iron supplements. In some cases, ibuprofen can increase bleeding. Those with hemophilia or anemia might not be good candidates for hormone therapy as these conditions could complicate your treatment.
Your doctor also may prescribe desmopressin nasal spray, which helps blood cells release a protein to encourage blood clotting in people with mild hemophilia. Antifibrinolytic medicines are another option. These typically oral medicines reduce bleeding by stopping a blood clot from breaking down once it has formed.
Abnormal uterine bleeding can occur because of complications with an intrauterine device or a previous pregnancy. In these cases, your gynecologist will need to examine your cervix and uterus to fix any issues in your uterus, such as repositioning your IUD.
If your abnormal uterine bleeding requires surgery, your gynecologist may recommend:
Last reviewed by a UPMC medical professional on 2024-09-05.
