Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
Abnormal vaginal bleeding is any bleeding unrelated to
normal menstruation. This can include spotting of small
amounts of blood (between periods), or menstrual flow which
is heavier than normal.
Some of the causes for abnormal vaginal bleeding are:
• Hormonal changes
• Contraception pills or intrauterine device (IUD)
• Infection of the vagina or uterus
• Problem with blood clotting
• Cancer of the uterus or vagina
• Trauma to the vagina
• Polyps or fibroids (abnormal outgrowth of tissues or
tumours)
• Certain diseases
Symptoms of abnormal vaginal:
Symptoms of abnormal vaginal bleeding include bleeding
between periods or after sex, spotting after menstruation,
bleeding heavier or for more days than normal, and bleeding
after menopause.
Diagnosis of abnormal vaginal
Your doctor will examine your family health history as well
as complete details of your menstrual cycles (dates, length,
and type of bleeding). You will also have a physical
examination and blood tests to check your hormonal levels to
diagnose the cause of your bleeding.
Your doctor may also order a pregnancy test to rule out the
possibility of pregnancy. A range of imaging tests such as
ultrasound or MRI scans, which produce images of your
internal organs, may also be ordered to diagnose irregular
bleeding.
A cervical smear and swab may be taken and sent for sampling
to determine any abnormalities.
Treatment of abnormal vaginal:
The types of treatment for abnormal vaginal bleeding are
based on many factors such as cause of bleeding, age and
whether you want to have a child. Most cases of abnormal
vaginal bleeding can be treated with medications except for
a few which may require surgery.
Medications: Hormonal
medications used to treat abnormal bleeding depend on
whether or not you want to get pregnant and your age.
Hormones can be given as injections, vaginal creams or
through intra uterine devices (birth control device which is
inserted into the uterus). The hormones are slowly released
into the body by these means and control the abnormal
bleeding. Your doctor may prescribe other medications such
as anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics to reduce bleeding
and infections, respectively.
Surgical treatment: Your doctor
will recommend surgical treatment if the bleeding is caused
by polyps or fibroids. Surgery is performed to excise the
polyps or fibroids by a procedure called hysteroscopy, which
uses a flexible tube or endoscope. Some other procedures
like endometrial ablations (removal of a thin layer of the
uterine wall to reduce bleeding) may also be performed.
Hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) may be
considered if all other forms of treatments have failed. You
can no longer conceive after hysterectomy.
Along with these treatments you can take good care of
yourself by eating a well-balanced diet, exercising, and
getting a proper amount of sleep.
