Excessive vaginal bleeding can be an early warning sign of cancer, hormonal imbalances, or other conditions that affect fertility. A gynecologist provides treatment plans to help manage your symptoms and treat underlying conditions causing the bleeding. Here’s more information about abnormal vaginal bleeding and how a gynecologist can help:
Causes of Excessive Vaginal Bleeding
Abnormal bleeding occurs when you bleed in between your monthly periods or when you experience prolonged or heavy menstruation. Infections, diseases, hormonal imbalances, and structural abnormalities in the uterus can lead to excessive vaginal bleeding. An ovarian condition or a problem with how the brain signals the ovulation-controlling glands can cause your ovaries to malfunction. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, may also lead to bleeding during or after sex.
Cancers affecting the cervix, ovaries, or fallopian tubes can cause vaginal bleeding after sex or between menstrual periods. Abnormal bleeding may also occur in women after menopause. Bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia, can cause a deficiency of vitamin K or proteins that help the body make blood-clotting factors. A gynecologist will work closely with you to conduct diagnostic tests, such as Pap smears and transvaginal ultrasounds, to determine any underlying causes.
How a Gynecologist Can Help
Your gynecologist may offer customized treatment plans to address the causes of excessive bleeding and provide lasting relief. Surgical treatment options, such as endometrial ablation, can reduce or stop heavy periods. Discuss the impact of endometrial ablation on fertility with your provider to understand its effects on your future family plans. A polypectomy is another surgical option and involves removing polyps from the uterine lining to reduce excessive bleeding.
Specialists will help you manage conditions that cause abnormal bleeding, such as thyroid problems or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Your provider will assess your PCOS symptoms, including weight gain and irregular periods, and devise strategies to help you manage them. Weight management and regular exercise may help regulate menstrual cycles. For an underactive thyroid causing heavy bleeding, doctors can recommend thyroid hormone replacement or iron supplementation as part of your treatment plan. Managing these underlying conditions reduces the risk of excessive vaginal bleeding.
A gynecologist can provide a prescription for birth control medications to regulate spotting and bleeding between periods. Oral contraceptives and hormonal birth control patches help control your estrogen and progesterone levels to relieve symptoms. A minimally invasive myomectomy removes fibroids to benefit women with abnormal growths that cause heavy bleeding. If your gynecologist needs to see your uterus more clearly before making a diagnosis, they might suggest a hysteroscopy to examine the inside of the uterus.
Schedule a Gynecology Appointment
Abnormal uterine bleeding may be a symptom of various underlying conditions, such as ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, or endometriosis. If the excessive bleeding also accompanies symptoms like intense cramps or pelvic pain, it could be a sign of fibroids. A gynecologist may perform a physical exam, blood testing, and an ultrasound to check for structural abnormalities, hormonal imbalances, and other health concerns. Schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider to understand the causes and treatment options for excessive vaginal bleeding.
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