Menstrual bleeding is a normal part of every woman’s life, and although it can be a pain, it’s usually not a cause for concern. Sometimes, though, you bleed between periods or have heavy bleeding, which is not normal in most cases. Irregular bleeding can be a sign of a bigger problem going on in your reproductive system.
At our facility, Dr. John Paul Roberts is our board-certified OB/GYN who specializes in care of women who are having irregular bleeding. Whether it's normal or not, Dr. Roberts gets to the bottom of the problem to provide the necessary treatment.
Irregular bleeding could stem from many different conditions, usually meaning a problem in your reproductive system. The cause doesn’t always have to be something serious like cancer, but there are several different reasons that you could be experiencing irregular bleeding, including:
You could also have benign tumors, called uterine fibroids, that cause you to bleed abnormally. Pregnancy can also cause changes in your uterus, leading to bleeding that’s not normal to you.
No matter what the cause, irregular bleeding should be checked out by Dr. Roberts to rule out cancer or other more serious conditions. At your appointment, Dr. Roberts asks you about your normal menstrual cycle and details about the irregular bleeding you’re experiencing.
To find out what’s causing the bleeding, he’ll probably do blood work and/or an exam. He may also get imaging tests or do a hysteroscopy to help determine the root cause of the problem.
Although most abnormal bleeding is the sign of a problem, this isn’t always the case. Irregular bleeding does indicate something is off, but not always in a bad way. For instance, early pregnancy can result in spotting or mild bleeding. This is often called implantation bleeding, which could be normal.
However, if you’re pregnant and your bleeding resembles that of a normal period, you should see Dr. Roberts as soon as possible.
Stress could be another factor that causes you to have bleeding outside of your normal menstrual cycle.
New medications can sometimes cause bleeding between periods. Many medications have side effects, some of which can affect your cycle. In most cases, however, irregular bleeding means something is off in your body.
Hormonal irregularities cause abnormal bleeding, most notable around menopause. But there are other hormonal imbalances that could lead to this issue, so coming in for a checkup is best when you’re dealing with irregular bleeding between periods.
If your bleeding is caused by some kind of hormone imbalance, Dr. Roberts works with you to help control the bleeding with hormonal birth control, such as birth control pills.
If hormonal choices don’t help or aren’t an option for you, there are other procedures he can use. In the past, irregular bleeding was treated with a partial hysterectomy, which was not only invasive, but also involved a substantial recovery.
With today’s technology, Dr. Roberts can treat your irregular bleeding with a minimally invasive, procedure called NovaSure®. This in-office procedure uses a laser to carefully remove the lining of your uterus. It’s considered a type of endometrial ablation.
The NovaSure procedure has minimal discomfort, rarely takes longer than 10 minutes, and requires very little recovery time.
If you’re dealing with irregular bleeding, call our office in Plano, Texas, to make an appointment, or request one using our online booking tool.
