Dysfunctional (Abnormal) Uterine Bleeding is one condition every woman goes through at some point in her life. DUB occurs when you bleed outside your regular menstrual cycle.
The primary cause of dysfunctional uterine bleeding is a sex hormone imbalance. Girls with puberty and women approaching menopause can have imbalanced hormone levels for months or even years. This causes intermittent bleeding, serious bleeding, and spotting (bleeding outside the normal).
The signs of abnormal uterine bleeding that doctors look forward to includes; heavy period, bleeding between your period (after sex, or during menopause), long periods (more than 7 days), and irregular periods.
Medical conditions that often cause dysfunctional uterine bleeding are:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is a problem with the endocrine that makes a woman produce an expanded measure of sex hormones. This may prompt an unevenness in estrogen and progesterone, making the period sporadic.
- Endometriosis. This disorder occurs as the uterine lining develops out of the uterus, such as on the ovary. Endometriosis also causes irregular and heavy bleeding during regular period flow.
- Uterine polyps. The cause of these small growths outside the uterus is unknown, yet polyp growth is heavily influenced by the hormone estrogen. Small blood vessels in the polyps can cause DUB, including spotting between periods.
- Uterine fibroids. Uterine Fibroids are small growths that occur within the uterus, uterine lining, or uterine muscle. Like polyps, the causes of uterine fibroids are unknown. But estrogen seems to play a role in their growth.
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STDs that cause inflammation, like gonorrhea and chlamydia, may lead to DUB. Bleeding caused by STDs usually occurs after sex, when the damage is worsened.
Other factors that can change bleeding patterns include:
- Excessive exercise
- Excessive weight gain
- Stress or illness
- Puberty: Regular ovulatory cycles may not develop for a few months or even years.
- Menopause: Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is common in the months to years before menopause.
Symptoms
Abnormal bleeding can occur at various periods from month to month and last for different durations of time. The volume of blood flow will range from light to incredibly heavy with big clots. Bleeding can be associated with uterine cramps in some women.
There is no way to prevent DUB, immediately contact your doctor when you begin to experience these severe or any other symptoms:
- Fainting
- Excessive bleeding
- Low blood pressure
- Bloating
- Pelvic pain and pressure
- Increased heart rate
Administering a combination of oral birth control pills that contain synthetic estrogen and progesterone is the most common and simplest treatment option for DUB. This should be taken by the doctor’s prescription.
Generally, DUb is a temporary condition, once the sex hormones are controlled, the bleeding decreases.
