You do not have to worry about vaginal bleeding. Every month, a woman experiences vaginal bleeding during the menstrual cycle when the uterine lining breaks down. The amount and period of the bleeding differs from woman to woman.

What is Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding?

The basis for determining whether vaginal bleeding is still normal is when the vaginal bleeding occurs and how much vaginal bleeding a woman experiences.

If you’re in the premenopause stage, check for the following to determine if you’re experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding:

* Bleeding outside the menstrual period

* More menstrual bleeding than you normally experience

* Prolonged menstruation

* Anemia caused by bleeding

* Abnormal bleeding of the genital tract because of uterine tissue problems such as endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial polyps, infection, and others

* Fibromyoma

* Uterine cancer

* Cancer of the cervix

* Obesity

* Polycystic ovaries

Among premenopausal women, those that are pregnant are prone to abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially if a miscarriage occurs, the pregnancy is ectopic (in the tubes), or the woman has just given birth. Abnormal vaginal bleeding can also be experienced if the placenta is torn from the uterine wall or if it overlies the cervix.

In menopausal women or women who have stopped menstruating for at least twelve consecutive months, symptoms of abnormal vaginal bleeding should not be overlooked, as this may be indicative of serious medical problems. These can include the following:

* endometrial hyperplasia

* cervical or endometrial polyps

* endometrial cancer

* vaginitis

* unopposed estrogen

How to Identify Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding

Ensure that you are promptly checked by your doctor if you think you’re experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding. However, you should be able to provide sufficient information about your menstrual history in order to get an accurate diagnosis.

When getting diagnosed for abnormal vaginal bleeding, the following are some of the conditions that your doctor will check:

Pregnancy

Women in the early stages of pregnancy may experience vaginal bleeding, though they are usually not aware of their condition.

Bleeding pattern

You should be able to provide your doctor with information on your menstrual cycle, the amount of bleeding that occurs, and the duration by which each menstrual period lasts. Your vaginal bleeding may be considered abnormal if your menstrual cycle has an erratic pattern; if you’re menstruating too heavily or too lightly; or if your menstruation occurs over very short or very long periods of time.

Ovulation

Obese women and those experiencing polycystic ovarian syndrome are those who are prone to ovulation problems that cause abnormal vaginal bleeding. Abnormal vaginal bleeding may occur when a woman’s progesterone levels are very low during the second half of her menstrual cycle and when the woman experiences prolonged and irregular bleeding after not having menstruated for a long time.

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