Irregular/Abnormal
Bleeding
|
CONDITION
|
CAUSE
|
OTHER SYMPTOMS
|
DIAGNOSIS
|
TREATMENT OPTIONS
|
| Polycystic
ovary disease (syndrome) |
No ovulation |
Irregular bleeding,
irregular periods, infertility, acne , excessive hair growth |
Made with examination
and lab tests to check hormone levels |
Birth control
pills, progesterone supplementation every three months; infertility drugs
when pregnancy desired |
| Pregnancy |
Can be normal;
as a result of miscarriage or ectopic (tubal) pregnancy |
May have right
or left lower abdominal pain; cramping |
Pregnancy test,
sonogram |
If normal –
observe; miscarriage may need a D&C; ectopic is a medical emergency
and needs IMMEDIATE Surgery |
| Infections
of the uterus or cervix |
Some Sexually
transmitted diseases |
Pain with period,
foul smelling discharge, greenish to green-yellow discharge |
Exam, cultures,
other specific blood test |
Appropriate
for the STD |
| IUD |
Irritation
of the lining of the uterus. The uterus can’t stop bleeding after a period |
Cramping, heavy
clotting |
If periods
were normal before the IUD was placed, you may need to have it removed.
If they return to normal after removal, the IUD was the cause |
Remove the
IUD |
| Birth Control
Pills |
Missed pills,
newly starting the pill, improper hormone mixture for YOUR body |
Brown staining
to bright red bleeding in the middle of the cycle; heavy to no periods |
Missed pills
are obvious; your doctor can make the diagnosis based on the description
of what your periods are like compared to before starting the pill |
Wait for 2-3
months after starting a new pill; change pills |
| Uterine
fibroids |
Growths of
smooth muscle non-cancerous tumors in the uterine muscle. These are
more common in black women, but are not uncommon in white women. They are
very uncommon in Oriental women |
Heavy periods,
bleeding between cycles, problems with kidneys, increasing abdominal girth,
pressure feelings in the lower abdomen, infertility |
Exam, sonogram,
possibly MRI |
Dependant on
the size and symptoms a myomectomy, rather than a hysterectomy, can be
done. This removes the fibroids and rebuilds the uterus |
| Blood clotting
problems |
Von Willebrand’s
Disease, Factor abnormalities, hemophilia |
Heavy periods;
long periods lasting more than 10 days; clotting |
Exam, family
history, appropriate blood test |
Treatment based
on the disease |
| Cancer of
the uterus, cervix or vagina |
Cancer can
cause abnormal bleeding cause normal tissues are not present |
Heavy bleeding,
bleeding with intercourse, bleeding between periods |
Exam, biopsy,
D&C, other testing specific for the cancer looked for |
Surgery specific
to the cancer found |
| Genetic
abnormality in anatomy |
Abnormal development of the
organs |
No periods, heavy periods |
Exam, sonogram, hysterosalpingogram
(putting dye in the uterus to look at the anatomy of the uterus and tubes) |
Surgery
if needed to nothing |
