Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding: Causes and When to Get Care

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