Dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Affects up to one quarter of non-pregnant women in reproductive age group, most commonly in the early years following puberty and a few years before menopause.

Menorrhagia is the main symptom and may be regular, or more commonly, irregular. Can present as excessive uterine bleeding that requires emergency hospital admission and intervention.

Diagnosis of underlying pathology includes imaging and endometrial sampling. Direct visualisation of the uterine cavity is possible by hysteroscopy.

Treatment aims at correction of the ovarian hormonal dysfunction and stopping the abnormal uterine bleeding.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) is a common disorder of excessive uterine bleeding affecting pre-menopausal women that is not due to pregnancy or any recognisable uterine or systemic diseases. The underlying pathophysiology is believed to be due to ovarian hormonal dysfunction. However, the exact mechanisms remain unknown. DUB usually presents as heavy, prolonged, or frequent bleeding of uterine origin.[1]Speroff L, Fritz M, eds. Dysfunctional uterine bleeding. In: Clinical gynecologic endocrinology and infertility. 7th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004:547-571.