Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is when your menstrual bleeding is different from the usual pattern, which is for approximately five days for most women occurring every 21-35 days. Signs of AUB include bleeding between your monthly periods, irregular periods, bleeding for too long or extremely heavy flow. This condition is often not reported by most women, however the underlying causes of AUB could prove to be serious.
There are several causes of AUB, including:
- Structural abnormalities in the uterus, like fibroids and polyps (non-cancerous growths)
- Uterine, ovarian or cervical cancer
- Medication, like blood thinners, for other health conditions that reduce the risk of forming blood clots
- Early pregnancy
- Hormonal imbalance, like in PCOS
- Hormonal changes, like in menopause
The management and treatment of AUB will depend on the underlying cause of the bleeding. Treatments may include:
- Hormonal management to help regulate the hormones, like oral progestin, oral contraceptive pills, IV oestrogen
- Surgery for the removal of fibroids and polyps (myomectomy)
- Referral to an oncologist for treatment of uterine, ovarian or cervical cancer
- As a last resort, hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
