Why You Should Never Ignore Abnormal Bleeding

14% of women experience painful, irregular, or abnormal periods. While it’s normal for your menstrual cycle to change over time, abnormal uterine bleeding can be a sign that something is wrong. If you’re suddenly experiencing longer periods, painful cramps, and heavy bleeding, it might be time to reach out to a trustworthy gynecologist. 

Physicians for Women in Madison, Wisconsin consists of a team of gynecologists. If you have concerns about your menstrual cycle, they can help diagnose the problem and find a solution. Abnormal bleeding can be caused by a number of things, ranging from stress to more serious conditions like endometriosis. Regardless of what’s causing your abnormal bleeding, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. 

Common causes of abnormal bleeding 

Abnormal bleeding isn’t always a sign of a serious issue, but it can be an early symptom of many dangerous conditions. One slightly heavy period is nothing to worry about, but if you’ve noticed a rapid shift or a gradual worsening in the severity of your menstrual cycles, you should reach out to a professional. 

Many different conditions can lead to abnormal bleeding, including: 

• Endometriosis 
• Blood clotting disorders
• Failure to release an egg, or anovulation
• Endometrial polyps 
• Certain types of cancer
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Uterine fibroids
• Some benign gynecological diseases
• Infection 
• Early pregnancy/postpartum complications

Many women resign themselves to heavy periods because they’re embarrassed to bring the issue up with their GP, think their pain is normal, or have anxiety about visiting the gynecologist. This is why it’s important to have an experienced, understanding OB/GYN on your side. 

When to seek a check-up 

You should seek help for abnormal bleeding as soon as you notice it’s becoming a pattern. As mentioned above, one heavy or irregular period might fly under the radar, but two or three usually indicates a problem. A sudden, drastic shift in the amount of blood and pain you’re experiencing should also be taken seriously.

When you visit your gynecologist, they’ll ask a series of questions about your menstrual cycles, birth control methods, and gynecological history. From there, they can begin diagnosing the issue. At Physicians for Women, we have a number of in-house tools to help make testing easy, and we can help you with a fast, accurate diagnosis followed by compassionate, effective treatment recommendations. 

If you’re experiencing abnormal bleeding, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office. You can schedule a visit by calling 608-218-4835, or book an appointment online.