DUB occurs in women during their reproductive years (they have started their period but have not reached menopause). About 20% of DUB cases occur in adolescents and 40% occur in women over 40.
Symptoms
Abnormal menstrual periods
Bleeding from the vagina between periods
Changing menstrual cycles (usually less than 28 days between menstrual periods)
Changing menstrual flow ranging from very little to a lot
Excessive growth of body hair in a male pattern (hirsutism)
Young women within a few years of their first period are not treated unless symptoms are very severe, such as heavy blood loss causing anemia.
In other women, the goal of treatment is to control the menstrual cycle. Oral birth control pills or progestogen therapy are often used for this purpose. Women with anemia may get iron supplements.
If you want to get pregnant, you may be given medication to stimulate ovulation.
Women whose symptoms are severe and resistant to medical therapy may need surgical treatments including:
Burning or removing the lining of the uterus (endometrial ablation)
Premenstrual syndrome (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Premenstrual syndrome(PMS) refers to a wide range of physical or emotional symptoms that typically occur about 5 to 11 days before a woman starts her monthly menstrual cycle. The symptoms usually stop when menstruation begins, or shortly thereafter.Reviewer: Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/26/2008
Bleeding disorders(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Bleeding disorders are a group of conditions in which there is a problem with the body''s blood clotting process. These disorders can lead to heavy and prolonged bleeding after an injury. Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 03/02/2009
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder(PMDD) is a condition marked by severe depression symptoms, irritability, and tension before menstruation. These symptoms are more severe than those seen with premenstrual syndrome(PMS).The causes of PMS and PMDD hav...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 12/31/2008
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