Abnormal Bleeding

What is abnormal bleeding?

If you’re suffering from abnormal bleeding, whether uterine or vaginal, the expert OB/GYN team of physicians at Nurture Women’s Health in Frisco, Texas, provides you with the highest level of care.

When should I see my OB/GYN?

If you’re experiencing abnormal uterine or vaginal bleeding, or any out-of-the-ordinary symptoms, you should talk to your doctor at Nurture Women’s Health.

Alarming symptoms may include:

Inconsistent menstrual cycles

Your period should come between 21 and 35 days. If your period is out of the range of those days, you should visit your OB/GYN.

Length of menstrual cycles

An average period lasts 4-7 days. If your period lasts longer than one week, let your physician know.

Heavy bleeding

If you’re experiencing severe bleeding, such as soaking through pads within one or two hours or passing blood clots, you should call your doctor.

Menorrhagia

This condition typically requires changing your tampon or pad every hour while experiencing debilitating menstrual cramps. Other symptoms include passing quarter-sized blood clots, periods lasting longer than a week, bleeding between periods, and bleeding after menopause. If you’re having any of these symptoms, call your physician at Nurture Women’s Health as soon as possible for a thorough evaluation.

What causes abnormal bleeding?

Abnormal bleeding can stem from various sources, such as hormone imbalances that cause the lining of your uterus to become too thick during your cycle and leads to a heavier period. Other possible causes include:

Fibroids in your uterine lining
Ectopic pregnancy
Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
Miscarriage
Clotting
Cancer of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries

Rare bleeding disorders can also cause abnormal bleeding. They are hereditary but rare.

How is abnormal bleeding treated?

During your exam, the goal is to find the cause of your abnormal bleeding. First, your doctor rules out pregnancy or a miscarriage as potential causes of your bleeding. During your consultation, you can talk to your doctor about how long, how often, and how severe your bleeding has been. To find the root cause of your bleeding, your doctor may request blood tests, urine samples, an ultrasound, in addition to performing a pelvic exam.