Causes of Abnormal Bleeding

Abnormal bleeding is when you bleed between your monthly periods or have prolonged or hefty periods. Normal menstrual flow should last about five days and happen every twenty-one to thirty-five days. Hormonal changes are the leading causes of abnormal bleeding. Abnormal bleeding can affect pregnant and non-pregnant women. You should seek immediate medical care if you experience abnormal bleeding because it can be a symptom of a disease or cause infertility. Your South Charleston board certified OB-GYN can help diagnose the cause of your bleeding for effective treatment. Most cases of abnormal bleeding are treatable, and early detection helps in successful treatment.

Hormonal imbalance

Estrogen and progesterone are the hormones that regulate your cycle. The imbalance of these hormones can cause abnormal bleeding. Dysfunctional ovaries, thyroid gland issues, and starting or stopping birth control pills can lead to hormone imbalance. You can also experience bleeding during ovulation due to hormonal changes. Abnormal bleeding is common for the first three months when you begin using hormonal contraceptives. Being obese or overweight can also affect your hormonal balance.

Pregnancy complications

Complications like ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage can cause bleeding. Ectopic pregnancy is where a fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. Miscarriage is when you lose pregnancy before twenty weeks of gestation. Abnormal bleeding when you are pregnant may not mean you have a miscarriage. If you experience any vagina bleeding when you are pregnant, consult your healthcare provider immediately.

Infections

Bleeding between periods can indicate an infection in the reproductive organs. Infections can cause inflammation and bleeding. Vaginitis, sexually transmitted diseases, trichomoniasis, sexual intercourse, and pelvic inflammatory disease are some common reproductive system infections.

Uterus issues

Physical problems with your uterus can cause abnormal bleeding. Fibroids, non-cancerous tumors that develop in the uterine wall, can lead to abnormal bleeding. Polyps, another type of growth, can grow in the lining of your uterus leading to abnormal bleeding. You can also have adenomyosis, a condition where the cells identical to the ones that form on the uterus lining grow in the uterine muscle. Bleeding can also result from endometriosis.

Cancer

Cancer can cause vaginal bleeding. Bleeding after menopause can indicate endometrial cancer, which affects the tissue that lines your uterus. It is the most common type of gynecological cancer. In most cases, endometrial cancer happens after menopause. Studies show that vaginal bleeding is the initial symptom of more than ninety percent of all postmenopausal females with cancer. Cervical, vaginal, and ovarian cancers are other forms of cancer that can lead to abnormal bleeding.

Lack of ovulation

If you lack ovulation for several menstrual cycles, your uterine lining can become thicker than usual. The absence of ovulation can lead to abnormal bleeding. You can experience irregular ovulation if you started menstruating recently, are in perimenopause, or have polycystic ovary syndrome. Hypothyroidism, which is low thyroid function, can lead to irregular ovulation, causing abnormal bleeding.

Abnormal bleeding involves having prolonged or extremely heavy periods or periods between your monthly periods. Hormonal imbalance, uterus problems, ovulation disorders, infections, and cancer are some causes of abnormal bleeding. Schedule an appointment at Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. for abnormal bleeding treatment to avoid future complications.