Best Treatments for Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding

Any bleeding that occurs outside your normal menstrual cycle is abnormal vaginal bleeding. Fortunately, the cause is usually easily treated. Your solution may be as simple as switching to a different birth control pill, decreasing daily stress, or taking medication to manage a thyroid disorder. However, more serious conditions such as cervical cancer or an ectopic pregnancy can also cause abnormal bleeding. Thus, any abnormal vaginal bleeding requires medical attention. MyDoc Urgent Care offers comprehensive medical care for New Yorkers of all ages from five state-of-the-art, conveniently located facilities. Their services include same-day doctor visits for women’s health issues such as abnormal vaginal bleeding. Check these facts about what may be causing your abnormal bleeding and how the MyDoc Urgent Care team can help.

What is abnormal vaginal bleeding?

The menstrual cycle includes all phases of the changes your body undergoes to prepare for pregnancy, starting with ovulation and ending with your menstrual period if you don’t become pregnant. Menstrual cycles can vary significantly from one person to the next. However, doctors typically identify a typical cycle as one that lasts from 21-35 days, ending with a period lasting from two to seven days. Abnormal vaginal bleeding is any that occurs outside of this typical range and may include:

• Bleeding between periods
• Heavier than usual flow or increased blood clots during your period
• Bleeding during pregnancy
• Prolonged menstrual bleeding (periods lasting longer than seven days)
• Vaginal bleeding following sexual intercourse
• Menstrual cycles longer than 35 days or shorter than 21 days
• Bleeding after menopause
• No period for three to six months

Abnormal vaginal bleeding is not usually a medical emergency. However, you should call your obstetrician immediately if you develop bleeding during pregnancy. Also, seek emergency care if you have increasing abdominal pain, light-to-heavy vaginal bleeding, and other symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy.

What causes abnormal vaginal bleeding?

Abnormal bleeding may be caused by one or more of the following:

• Problems with ovulation
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Hypothyroidism
• Uterine fibroids (noncancerous tumors)
• Endometriosis
• Cervical or uterine polyps
• Hormonal birth control (including pills, injections, or IUDs)
• Bleeding disorder
• Endometrial cancer (most common after menopause)
• Infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Miscarriage

Increased stress can also cause hormonal imbalances that may lead to abnormal vaginal bleeding.

What are the treatments for abnormal vaginal bleeding?

At MyDoc Urgent Care, your provider develops a treatment strategy based on the underlying cause of your abnormal bleeding. Your initial visit includes a detailed discussion of your symptoms and a careful review of your menstrual history. Your provider may also recommend a pelvic exam and further in-office diagnostic testing to confirm the cause of your symptoms. You may also benefit from lab tests to check your thyroid levels and evaluate your red blood cell count since anemia is sometimes a complication of heavy vaginal bleeding. Based on the evaluation, your treatment strategy may include birth control pills to help regulate your periods, medication to manage an accompanying medical condition such as hypothyroidism, or antibiotics to address an infection. You may also benefit from changes in your birth control method or referral to a specialist for additional treatment. In addition, some people require surgery to address issues such as severe endometriosis or symptomatic uterine fibroids. Don’t ignore abnormal vaginal bleeding. Instead, visit MyDoc Urgent Care today, or request an appointment online.