KEITH ISAACSON, MD: I would also add that women who are menopausal and have not had their periods for over a year, but are experiencing uterine bleeding, should be evaluated. In that patient population, you need to rule out serious diseases such as cancer.
What are some of the causes of abnormal uterine bleeding?
GRACE JANIK, MD: Hormonal abnormalities represent one category of causes. Polycystic ovarian disease is a syndrome that causes women to ovulate on an irregular basis, and women with this disease may produce too much male hormone, resulting in excessive hair growth and some obesity.
Polyps-tissue buildups in the endometrial lining-are another cause of abnormal bleeding. Fibroids can also cause abnormal bleeding; they are smooth muscle tumors that extrude into the cavity or a part of the wall of the uterus. Finally, abnormal bleeding may be caused by a cancer or pre-cancer condition.
Those are the main groupings that are associated with abnormal bleeding.
LINDA BRADLEY, MD: Also, lots of women are using aspirin and herbal products that may cause excessive bleeding. If you're taking anything over-the-counter, you want to let your physician know, because these other things could be the cause of the bleeding. It's not always the uterus.
