What is it?
It is believed that menstruation is normal when uterine bleeding occurs between every 25 and 35 days and not excessive. The normal duration of bleeding is to be between 2 and 7 days. Abnormal uterine bleeding occurs when the frequency or quantity of uterine bleeding differs from the above occur or uterine bleeding unrelated to menstrual cycle.
Causes
Abnormal uterine bleeding may be due to structural abnormalities of the uterus or what is called dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Among the structural abnormalities are benign lesions such as endometrial polyps, fibroids or uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. It can also be a manifestation of endometrial cancer is more common in older women. Other times may be due to lesions in the cervix or vagina, either benign or cancerous, chronic infections of the endometrium (endometritis) or use intrauterine devices (IUDs).
Other causes of abnormal uterine bleeding, not directly related to structural abnormalities may be the use of medications that affect the normal production of estrogen and progesterone, chronic medical illnesses such as diabetes or liver disease, kidney, thyroid, adrenal gland adrenals. Also the physical or emotional stress can induce the occurrence of abnormal uterine bleeding. For dysfunctional uterine bleeding is abnormal bleeding understood when this occurs without regard to structural abnormalities of the uterus or endometrium. The main cause is anovulation, ie lack of ovulation.
Diagnostics
Any woman experiencing abnormal uterine bleeding should be evaluated in a medical consultation. Among the diagnostic procedures should be conducted to determine the cause of the bleeding would place first physical examination and endometrial biopsy. The latter involves taking a sample from inside the uterus to rule out abnormalities.
Ultrasound, a technique based on ultrasound and therefore does not involve exposure to X-rays, is undoubtedly the imaging technique most used in the evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding. It allows the study of the uterus and ovaries.
Hysteroscopy is also a useful diagnostic procedure in the diagnosis of abnormal uterine bleeding. This technique involves inserting a small instrument through the cervix that allows direct visual inspection of the uterine cavity.
Under certain circumstances it may be advisable to carry out a dilation and curettage, is to be done under general anesthesia, and also provide diagnostic information can sometimes be therapeutic.
Moreover, there are causes of abnormal uterine bleeding in relation to chronic diseases or coagulation disorders, as well as anovulation. Therefore, it may be advisable to conduct a series of blood tests to rule out alterations in those organs that can induce the occurrence of such abnormal bleeding.
Treatments
The treatment must be individualized according to the specific cause of abnormal bleeding. In the case of dysfunctional uterine bleeding due to anovulation, treatment is primarily medical, by taking ovulation drugs reinstate or allow control of bleeding. If these treatments fail is a useful alternative to endometrial ablation, ie, surgical separation of the majority of endometrial tissue, which would allow a decrease in the amount of bleeding. This treatment should be reserved for those patients who become pregnant discarded. Hysteroscopy is done through general anesthesia. It is important to exclude serious lesions of the endometrium, primarily endometrial cancer, before performing this procedure.
For chronic diseases that induce abnormal uterine bleeding, the therapeutic focus should be directed primarily to treatment of the disease, being of assistance measures similar to those described above.
In the case of structural abnormalities of the uterus or endometrium, have a specific treatment, primarily surgically, either by using hysteroscopy, such as removal of fibroids, polyps or through open surgery (laparotomy) and can If necessary the removal of myoma only if this is the cause of bleeding (which is called myomectomy) or in extreme circumstances removal of the uterus (hysterectomy).
Tags: anesthesia, anovulation, bleeding, Definition, endometrial, Gynecological Hemorrhage, Hysteroscopy
