Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is characterized by abnormal uterine bleeding without the disease of the organ. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is the most typical etiology of abnormal vaginal bleeding throughout a woman’s reproductive days. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding can have an effect on the woman’s physical, social, and financial life. In this article, we will explain the Treatment for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding – Signs, Symptoms & Causes
Signs and Symptoms of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
A woman suffering from dysfunctional uterine bleeding may observe the following signs and symptoms:
- Vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods
- Menstrual periods may become lower than 29 days or above 35 days in the interval
- The time between menstruation can be altered with every cycle
- Vaginal bleeding is more severe
Large clots may appear there will be a need to change the pad or tampon throughout the night the pad or the tampon will be soaked every two to three hours. Vaginal bleeding will persist for more days than average or above seven days
Other signs and symptoms may include:
- Overgrowth of body hair or hirsutism
- Hot sensations
- Mood changes
- Vaginal pain and dryness
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Anemia from losing excessive blood
Causes of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
The menstrual period will be different for each woman. Generally, the menstrual period happens every 28 days and usually persists for four to seven days.
The menstrual period of teenage girls who are just having their early cycles usually has 21 to 45 days intervals. Whereas women 40 years old and above usually observe that they have less usual menstrual periods.
Throughout the normal menstrual period, the number of various female hormones produced by your body increases and decrease. Estrogen and progesterone are two very significant female hormones.
Ovulation is the division of the normal menstrual period when the ovum is discharged from the ovaries. The most typical etiology of dysfunctional uterine bleeding is when your ovaries do not discharge an ovum. When this happens, the number of hormones inside your body is not the same, resulting in menstrual irregularities.
Other modifications and imbalances in your hormones may also lead to menstrual changes.
Pathophysiology
The usual menstrual period is 28 days on the first day of menstruation. Throughout the first 14 days called the follicular stage of the menstrual period, the uterine wall thickens because of estrogen. In reaction to increased levels of estrogen, the pituitary gland releases follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH, and luteinizing hormone, or LH, which promotes the discharge of an egg in the middle of the cycle. The remains of the follicular capsule will become the corpus luteum.
Following the ovulation, the luteal stage starts and it is marked by the stimulation of progesterone released from the corpus luteum. Progesterone develops the uterine wall and makes it more approachable to implantation. If implantation does not happen, without the hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin, the corpus luteum will perish together with a sudden decrease in progesterone and estrogen. A sudden drop in these hormones will result in vasoconstriction of the uterine wall arteries. This will result in menstruation which happens about 14 days following ovulation when the uterine wall becomes ischemic and falls off.
The following are medical terms usually applied to define abnormal uterine bleeding:
Menorrhagia
-Prolonged or severe menstrual flow happening regularly
-More than seven days or more than 80 ml every day
Metrorrhagia – menstrual flow happening at irregular intervals. menstrual periods more frequent than usual
Menometrorrhagia – prolonged or severe menstrual flow happening irregularly. Menstrual periods are more frequent than usual
Intermenstrual bleeding – the menstrual flow of different quantities happening between regular menstrual cycle
Midcycle spotting – bleeding happening just before ovulation, usually as a result of decreasing estrogen
Postmenopausal bleeding – the return of menstrual flow in menopausal women minimum of six months to one year following the termination of menstruation
Amenorrhea – the absence of menstrual bleeding for six months or above
Anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding came from a problem of the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries and is specifically usual at the utmost of the reproductive days. As soon as ovulation does not happen, no progesterone is created to steady the uterine wall; therefore, the proliferative uterine wall continues. Bleeding periods become uneven, and amenorrhea, metrorrhagia, and menometrorrhagia are usual. Bleeding from anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding is believed to come from alterations in prostaglandin strength, intensified uterine wall reactions to prostaglandins, and alterations in uterine walls’ vascular makeup.
Treatment for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
Young girls during their early years of first menstrual flow are usually not treated except if symptoms are very extreme such as profuse bleeding that can cause anemia.
In some girls, the aim of the treatment for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding is to manage the menstrual period.
- Oral contraceptives are usually prescribed
- An IUD that gives progestin can be very beneficial for severe blood flow and pain
The doctor may suggest iron supplements to treat anemia. If you wish to get pregnant, you may be prescribed drugs to increase ovulation.
Severe symptoms and those that do not react to medications may need surgery involving:
Endometrial ablation – removing the uterine wall to stop or decrease the bleeding
Hysterectomy – surgical removal of the uterus. It is rarely performed
D and C – for removal of polyps & confirmation purposes
