Menstruation, or a period, is a woman's monthly bleeding. Abnormal vaginal bleeding is different from a normal period. It includes:
- bleeding between periods
- very heavy bleeding
- bleeding that lasts much longer than usual
- bleeding before puberty or after menopause
Causes
Abnormal bleeding can be caused by:
- uterine fibroids or polyps
- hormone problems
- hormone pills, such as birth control pills and hormone therapy for menopause
- cancer of the cervix, ovaries, uterus or vagina
- thyroid problems
Bleeding during pregnancy
Bleeding during pregnancy has several possible causes. It is not always serious, but to be safe, contact a health care provider right away.
Diagnosis and treatment
Pelvic exams, blood tests, imaging tests and other procedures can help a provider find the cause. Treatment depends on the cause and may include medicines, hormones or surgery.
Sources
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), "Vaginal Bleeding." https://medlineplus.gov/vaginalbleeding.html
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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