Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a menstrual disorder which comprises of abnormal menstrual bleeding in terms of quantity, duration and the timing of bleeding. When uterine bleeding is outside the following normal menstrual pattern it is labeled as AUB:
- Duration of bleeding is greater than 7 days
- Menstrual blood flow is more than 6 full pads per day
- Period comes earlier than 21 days or later than 38 days
Inter menstrual bleeding or post coital bleeding
AUB is a common gynecologic complaint and almost one-third of the outpatient visits are due to AUB. It can be caused by a variety of disorders ranging from local pathology to systemic illnesses or it may be a side effect of a medication. Most common causes of AUB are uterine pathology (fibroid, polyp, adenomyosis); anovulation, coagulation disorders and gynecologic malignancies. Since the common causes of AUB are different in different age groups, it is important to divide AUB according to the age in following categories:
- AUB in adolescents
- AUB in reproductive age and premenopausal women
- AUB in postmenopausal women
Treatment of AUB should not be started until the ethology is identified and pre malignant and malignant lesions of the genital tract have been excluded. Broadly treatment can be :
- Treatment of the Primary Cause
- Medical treatment including simple non hormonal and hormonal pills
- Surgical treatment including Out Patient, Day-Care and key hole laparoscopic surgeries and hysterectomies / No –Scar Vaginal Hysterectomies.