Women sometimes experience irregular bleeding for different reasons and at different times across the lifespan. Irregular bleeding is fairly common and can negatively impact quality of life. At Diana Health, we want you to know that irregular bleeding does not have to be your norm. It’s important to first know what is considered irregular, atypical, or abnormal. To learn more about what is considered irregular bleeding and next steps, take a look at our irregular bleeding article.
We often have women who come to see us due to irregular bleeding, which is actually fairly common in reproductive-age women and may negatively impact their quality of life. This is sometimes referred to as atypical bleeding, which is vaginal bleeding that happens outside of the typical menstrual cycle. It can also be defined as vaginal bleeding that happens at a different time than a “withdrawal bleed” that occurs on the “off” weeks of cyclical hormonal contraception (e.g., oral contraceptive pills).
Across the Lifespan: Abnormal uterine bleeding can vary across a woman’s lifespan. Knowing what phases of life you might expect to see abnormal bleeding is important.
- Menarche: When young women start menstruating, they will often have periods that are irregular at first
- Pregnancy: Bleeding during pregnancy should be promptly evaluated by a health professional as it may indicate a problem with the pregnancy or even labor
- Postpartum and Lactation: For more information about what to expect after delivery and while lactating, visit this blog
- Perimenopause: As women approach menopause, menstruation will often become more irregular as ovarian function decreases
Potential Causes: There are many potential causes of abnormal bleeding. Some of the causes are highlighted below.
- Hormonal causes: This may be due to hormonal changes during perimenopause, with polycystic ovary syndrome, due to extreme psychological stress, thyroid hormone abnormalities, or hormonal treatments such as an intrauterine device. For more information about PCOS, as well as PCOS and pregnancy, visit these blog posts.
- Structural causes: Uterine fibroids (benign growths of the uterine muscle), adenomyosis endometrial tissue within the uterine muscle), endometriosis (endometrial tissue outside of the uterus), uterine polyps (a growth of tissue that is not cancer, inside the uterus or on the cervix), or hyperplasia can cause abnormal bleeding. Although cancer can be a cause (cervical, vulvar, vaginal, or uterine), abnormal bleeding is much more likely to be a non-cancerous reason. For more information on cervical cancer, click here. Visit our blogs on fibroids or endometriosis to learn more. Sometimes with vaginal dryness can come tiny tears in the vaginal wall, especially with vaginal intercourse. For more information see our blogs on When Sex is Painful, Fibroids, Endometriosis, or Vaginal Dryness.
- Infectious causes: Infections can sometimes cause irregular bleeding. Examples of infections that can lead to irregular bleeding include vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina usually due to an infection), endometritis (inflammation of the uterine lining usually due to an infection), or sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia. To learn more about sexually transmitted infections, check out this blog.
If you think you’re experiencing irregular bleeding due to any of these causes, it’s important to make an appointment with your Diana Healthcare provider, OBGYN, or primary care provider for evaluation and treatment. At Diana Health, we care about your quality of life and want you to be free of discomfort. Don’t hesitate to book an appointment and talk to a provider today.
