Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Gynecology Specialist, Doctor | Gynecologist Midtown Manhattan NYC

Abnormal uterine bleeding is increased OR decreased vaginal bleeding when compared to your normal periods

We offer comprehensive Obstetrics & Gynecology care in NYC for women of all ages. At our OB GYN, NYC clinic, we provide a full range of gynecologic services, from annual check-ups and routine pap smears to treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding and GYN procedures and surgeries performed in our office or in the hospital. Our state of the art gynecology NYC facility equipped with a latest OBGYN equipment.

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Abnormal uterine bleeding is defined as increased or decreased vaginal bleeding when compared to your normal periods, after menopause, or during pregnancy. Specifically, you shouldn’t be bleeding after period ends or spotting between periods, after sex, or after your cycles have ceased due to menopause.

It’s also considered abnormal to experience prolonged menstrual bleeding or bleeding more heavily than usual during your regular menstrual cycle. Heavy uterine bleeding (HUB) can often lead to low blood counts counts requiring tranfusions of blood or iron. You should contact your gynecologist for an appointment in any of these cases.  Abnormal uterine bleeding should always be evaluated with a thorough consultation and examination by an OBGYN physician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan as it may be a symptom or sign of a serious illness or condition.

A Normal Menstrual Cycle, Defined

Any amount of bleeding after menopause is considered abnormal and needs to be evaluated by your gynecologist

A menstrual cycle is usually 28 days, plus or minus a few days, on average.  However, your Midtown Manhattan gynecologist may tell you that as long as the number of days in your cycle is consistent, then that may still be normal. Additionally, if your periods are typically heavy or usually last for 10 days rather than five — again, that may be normal for you.

What to notice are any changes in your cycle, especially a disruption to your normally consistent process. If the number of days in your cycle changes each time — for example, one cycle is 32 days, then next cycle is 28 — that may abnormal, and you should contact Midtown gynecologist. These types of abnormalities are considered normal only when.

• You’re in the early years of your cycle, around ages nine to 16, as your body adjusts and finds its own rhythm.
• You’re over the age of 50 and your cycle has become inconsistent. You’re more than likely experiencing perimenopausal bleeding as your body prepares for menopause.

What Causes Abnormal Uterine Bleeding?

Abnormal uterine bleeding should always be evaluated with a thorough consultation and examination by a gynecologist for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan as it may be a symptom or sign of a serious illness or condition. If the abnormal uterine bleeding you’re experiencing isn’t due to being young or being perimenopausal, there may be many factors to consider before your OBGYN NYC can reach a diagnosis. Some of the things your gynecologist will check immediately include:

If there is a physical reason for the changes in bleeding, such as:

• An abnormal uterus
• A forgotten tampon
• An inappropriately functioning IUD
• A medication you may be taking
• If you’ve had intercourse recently

Hormonal changes:

• If you stopped taking or changed your birth control method
• Perhaps you’re suffering from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
• You have a medical condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome

If you are pregnant, it may relate to your pregnancy, such as:

• The stage of your pregnancy
• If your pregnancy is ectopic
• If you’re experiencing fluctuating hormone levels due to the pregnancy

Checking for infections, such as:

• Chlamydia
• Cervicitis
• Gonorrhea
• Vaginitis
• Pelvic Inflammatory disease, or PID

If there’s a medical condition that’s causing the bleeding, such as:

• Celiac’s Disease
• A kidney or liver disease
• Thrombocytopenia
• A blood clotting disorder of any kind

Whether you’re experiencing the growth of non-cancerous tissues, such as:

• Uterine fibroids
• Cervical or uterine/endometrial polyps
• Adenomyosis

Whether you experienced any trauma to your vagina or cervix, such as blunt trauma or sexual abuse.

Shortening the List of Causes

Your OBGYN starts with a physical exam to rule out certain diagnoses such as trauma or a forgotten tampon, which should be immediately apparent. Your gynecologist will question you about your menstrual cycle, sexual habits, personal history and family history to determine a baseline of what’s normal for your body. After determining your baseline bleeding profile, some of the following examinations may be ordered:

• Blood tests, which are common, routine and relatively painless. A blood test allows the gynecologist to check your blood count and hormone levels, as well as rule out certain blood diseases.
• Sonohysterography, a test whereby images are made of your uterus using sonogram technology and the aid of a tube that pushes sterile saline, a liquid, into your uterus to aid in the clarity of the images. This test allows the gynecologist to see any polyps or masses in your uterus. Regarding this test:
  • There is little to no discomfort with this test, although you may experience mild, period-like cramping.
  • The best time to schedule this test is seven to 10 days after your period ends. You should not be on your period or pregnant during this test.
  • You may resume normal activities after the test with the recommendation that you wear a pad, as the fluids used in the test may seep out of your vagina throughout the day. Some of the discharge may look a little bloody, but that’s normal and not cause for alarm.
• Ultrasound, which is a test that uses sound waves to create a picture of your reproductive organs. This is a safe, noninvasive diagnostic test. Your gynecologist may have special instructions for you, but generally there is no prep for this test.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a common diagnostic tool that uses powerful magnets to create an image of your reproductive internal organs. This test, while noninvasive and painless, can be very loud and is done while lying down inside a large tube. Patients with issues of claustrophobia may feel discomfort.
• Endometrial biopsy, which is the removal of a very small tissue sample from your endometrium — the lining of the uterus — using a catheter and a suction device. The sample is sent out to a lab for analysis. This procedure, like the sonohysterography test, may cause some cramping during the test and discharge with small amounts of bleeding after the test. You may find that you have bleeding and cramping for several days.
• Hysteroscopy is a procedure performed while you comfortably sleep by placing a tiny camera through the vagina and into the uterus to not only see potential issues but also correct them at the same time. The procedure usually takes less than 10 minutes for most problems and is generally painless on awakening. You go home shortly after the procedure and  can usually return to your regular activities the following day.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Once a diagnosis has been established via one of the above methods, your gynecologist can recommend a treatment. Treatment options vary as widely as the many possible diagnoses, but generally uterine bleeding requires either medical treatment or surgery to get the bleeding to stop. Treatment will be tailored to you based on the following:

• Your age
• Whether you want to be able to get pregnant in the future
• The cause of the bleeding in the first place

If you are experiencing any bleeding that is outside your body’s normal behavior, see your gynecologist immediately so that a diagnosis can be established and treatment can begin to stop the loss of blood.  Abnormal uterine bleeding should always be evaluated with a thorough consultation and examination by a physician  for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan as it may be a symptom or sign of a serious illness or condition.

Important Reminder: This information is only intended to provide guidance, not a definitive medical advice. Please consult a doctor about your specific condition. Only a trained, experienced gynecologist can determine an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Have questions about Abnormal Uterine Bleeding? If you would like to schedule an appointment with the best OB GYN in NYC, Dr. Fernando Mariz, please contact our OBGYN Manhattan office.

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