The hormonal imbalances that cause DUB can also result from certain medical conditions or be side effects of medications.
Medical conditions
Medical conditions that often cause dysfunctional uterine bleeding are:
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is an endocrine disorder that causes a woman to produce an increased amount of sex hormones. This may lead to an imbalance in estrogen and progesterone, making the menstrual cycle irregular.
Endometriosis. This condition results when the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus, such as on the ovaries. Endometriosis often causes heavy bleeding during regular periods.
Uterine polyps. These small growths occur within the uterus. Although their cause is unknown, polyp growth is heavily influenced by the hormone estrogen. Small blood vessels in the polyps can cause DUB, including spotting between periods.
Uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are small growths that occur within the uterus, uterine lining, or uterine muscle. Like polyps, the causes of uterine fibroids are unknown. But estrogen seems to play a role in their growth.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STDs that cause inflammation, like gonorrhea and chlamydia, may lead to DUB. Bleeding caused by STDs usually occurs after sex, when the lesions are aggravated.
Medications
Certain medications can also cause dysfunctional uterine bleeding, including:
birth control pills
hormonal agents
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Recognizing the symptoms of DUB
The most common symptom of DUB is bleeding outside of your normal periods. It can also occur within your menstrual cycle. Suspicious bleeding patterns include:
heavy menstrual bleeding
bleeding that contains many clots or large clots
bleeding that lasts more than seven days
bleeding that occurs less than 21 days from the last cycle
spotting
bleeding between periods
Other common symptoms that can occur with DUB are:
breast tenderness
bloating
pelvic pain or pressure
If you experience any of the following severe DUB symptoms, contact your doctor immediately:
dizziness
fainting
weakness
low blood pressure
increased heart rate
pale skin
pain
passing large clots
soaking a pad every hour
article as published in Healthline.
to be continued....Dr.Nandini Shete , Gynecologist & Obstetrician, pune
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