Most of the time, a benign (noncancerous) process causes bleeding or spotting, and hormonal fluctuations are often the culprit.
This article reviews symptoms of abnormal vaginal bleeding, as well as its causes, diagnosis, and treatment. It also covers when abnormal vaginal bleeding can signal a serious problem.
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Causes of Spotting and Bleeding After Periods
Symptoms
There are several instances in which vaginal bleeding would be considered abnormal:
Consult your healthcare provider if you have any vaginal bleeding that is not normal for you.
Types of Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
Causes
All gynecologic cancers (except vulvar cancer) can cause abnormal vaginal bleeding. Other medical conditions that may cause it include:
What Medications Cause Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding?
Medications that can contribute to abnormal vaginal bleeding include:
Diagnosis
If you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding, your healthcare provider will ask you questions about when it occurs, how long it lasts, and how heavy the bleeding is.
In addition, your healthcare provider may ask questions about any other symptoms. They may perform apelvic exam, blood tests,colposcopy(a close examination of the cervix, vagina, and vulva), ultrasound,hysteroscopy(an exam of the cervix and uterus using a telescopic device), or other diagnostic tests to help diagnose the cause of your abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Treatment
Depending on the underlying cause, treating abnormal vaginal bleeding can range from doing nothing to initiating hormonal birth control, using medications, or surgery.Aspirin and products containing aspirin can thin blood and increase bleeding and therefore should be avoided.
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Summary
Depending on the cause, your healthcare provider may just monitor it but some problems need to be treated with medications or surgery.
A Word From Verywell
Having abnormal vaginal bleeding can be scary, frustrating, and disruptive. Call your healthcare provider any time you have symptoms of abnormal vaginal uterine bleeding. This includes when it interferes with any aspect of your daily living or quality of life.
While it may feel uncomfortable to talk to your healthcare provider about bleeding or your period, they are used to these conversations and want to know so they can provide early diagnosis and treatment.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAbnormal bleeding can happen at any age. It’s very common when menstrual cycles first appear, which typically is between the ages of 12 and 13.Perimenopause (the time leading up to menopause) is also a common age to experience skipped, irregular, or changing menstrual cycles and bleeding. Perimenopause usually occurs in a woman’s later 40s or early 50s.Both of these age estimates are averages, they can vary for each individual.Abnormal bleeding is considered chronic (or long-term) when it happens frequently for six months. When period bleeding lasts longer than 8 days, it is considered abnormal.Acute, sudden heavy bleeding occurs when you soak through a pad or tampon every hour for 24 hours. If this happens, notify a healthcare provider immediately.Yes, studies show that high levels of chronic stress can cause irregular menstrual periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Abnormal bleeding can happen at any age. It’s very common when menstrual cycles first appear, which typically is between the ages of 12 and 13.Perimenopause (the time leading up to menopause) is also a common age to experience skipped, irregular, or changing menstrual cycles and bleeding. Perimenopause usually occurs in a woman’s later 40s or early 50s.Both of these age estimates are averages, they can vary for each individual.
Abnormal bleeding can happen at any age. It’s very common when menstrual cycles first appear, which typically is between the ages of 12 and 13.
Perimenopause (the time leading up to menopause) is also a common age to experience skipped, irregular, or changing menstrual cycles and bleeding. Perimenopause usually occurs in a woman’s later 40s or early 50s.Both of these age estimates are averages, they can vary for each individual.
Abnormal bleeding is considered chronic (or long-term) when it happens frequently for six months. When period bleeding lasts longer than 8 days, it is considered abnormal.Acute, sudden heavy bleeding occurs when you soak through a pad or tampon every hour for 24 hours. If this happens, notify a healthcare provider immediately.
Abnormal bleeding is considered chronic (or long-term) when it happens frequently for six months. When period bleeding lasts longer than 8 days, it is considered abnormal.
Acute, sudden heavy bleeding occurs when you soak through a pad or tampon every hour for 24 hours. If this happens, notify a healthcare provider immediately.
Yes, studies show that high levels of chronic stress can cause irregular menstrual periods.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Munro M, Critchley H. Fraser, I.The two FIGO systems for normal and abnormal uterine bleeding symptoms and classification of causes of abnormal uterine bleeding in the reproductive years: 2018 revisions.Int J Gynecol Obstet.2018;143: 393-408. doi:10.1002/ijgo.12666Chodankar R, Critchley HOD.Abnormal uterine bleeding (including PALM COEIN classification).Obstet Gynaecol Reprod Med. 2019;29(4):98-104. doi:10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.01.009The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Munro M, Critchley H. Fraser, I.The two FIGO systems for normal and abnormal uterine bleeding symptoms and classification of causes of abnormal uterine bleeding in the reproductive years: 2018 revisions.Int J Gynecol Obstet.2018;143: 393-408. doi:10.1002/ijgo.12666Chodankar R, Critchley HOD.Abnormal uterine bleeding (including PALM COEIN classification).Obstet Gynaecol Reprod Med. 2019;29(4):98-104. doi:10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.01.009The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Munro M, Critchley H. Fraser, I.The two FIGO systems for normal and abnormal uterine bleeding symptoms and classification of causes of abnormal uterine bleeding in the reproductive years: 2018 revisions.Int J Gynecol Obstet.2018;143: 393-408. doi:10.1002/ijgo.12666Chodankar R, Critchley HOD.Abnormal uterine bleeding (including PALM COEIN classification).Obstet Gynaecol Reprod Med. 2019;29(4):98-104. doi:10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.01.009The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.
Munro M, Critchley H. Fraser, I.The two FIGO systems for normal and abnormal uterine bleeding symptoms and classification of causes of abnormal uterine bleeding in the reproductive years: 2018 revisions.Int J Gynecol Obstet.2018;143: 393-408. doi:10.1002/ijgo.12666
Chodankar R, Critchley HOD.Abnormal uterine bleeding (including PALM COEIN classification).Obstet Gynaecol Reprod Med. 2019;29(4):98-104. doi:10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.01.009
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Abnormal uterine bleeding.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Office on Women’s Health.Period problems.
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