This
abnormal uterine bleeding is medically known as “Dysfunctional
Uterine Bleeding” (DUB), which affects most women.
The main symptoms are prolonged and irregular menstrual
bleeding. The bleeding may be irregular, spotting during
the cycle, but sometimes the bleeding is so heavy that
a woman can't participate in her normal day-to-day activities,
such as work and exercise. Many who have suffered from
dysfunctional uterine bleeding probably remember embarrassing
incidents with stained clothing or bed sheets.
Dysfunctional
uterine bleeding (DUB) is heavy or irregular menstrual
bleeding that is not caused by an underlying anatomical
abnormality. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding occurs
because of a hormone imbalance in the body. There
will not be any specific medical condition such as
polyps or uterine fibroids, cancer or complications
of pregnancy.
What happens?
A woman's normal
hormonal cycle depends upon a delicate balance between
a number of hormones. There are many possible causes
for hormone imbalance that may result in dysfunctional
uterine bleeding. For example, if a woman fails to
ovulate her ovary won't receive a cue to produce a
hormone called Progestrone. Progestrone is needed
to regulate the uterine lining called endometrium,
which is discarded during menstruation. Without Progestrone,
the endometrium keeps growing until it starts to break
down and is shed as a very heavy uterine bleeding.
The endometrium may also shed incompletely and irregularly,
and bleeding becomes irregular or prolonged. Lack
of ovulation is a major cause of dysfunctional uterine
bleeding in women resulting in excessive bleeding
and infertility. Very heavy periods may cause anaemia;
you feel physically drained and horn out extremely.
DUB can results in the following menstrual
patterns:
Polymenorrhea (frequent, regular periods that occur
less than every 21 days)
Hypermenorrhea (excessively heavy bleeding during
a normal-length period)
Menorrhagia (prolonged or excessive bleeding lasting
longer than a week that occurs at regular intervals)
Metrorrhagia (periods that occur at irregular intervals,
or frequent bleeding of various amounts, though not
heavy)
Menometrorrhagia (frequent, excessive, and prolonged
bleeding that occurs at irregular intervals)
Menorrhagia is results from dysfunctional
uterine bleeding; another frequent cause of menorrhagia
is uterine fibroids. Together, hormone imbalances
and fibroids account for about 80% of menorrhagia
cases. Other causes include endometrial cancer, polyps,
thyroid conditions and the blood diseases.
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