Is functional uterine bleeding serious?

Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 17, 2024
00:00
00:00

Functional uterine bleeding is a disease caused by hormonal imbalances in women. Most cases of functional uterine bleeding are not serious, but being not serious does not mean it can be ignored. Generally, when a woman experiences functional uterine bleeding, it is recommended to immediately seek medical attention at the gynecology outpatient clinic of a local hospital, undergo a gynecological color ultrasound, sex hormone panel, and other relevant examinations. Identify the causes and types of functional uterine bleeding, and adopt different treatment plans based on different results. Meanwhile, it is important to note that if the bleeding is heavy, it may be necessary to perform a blood cell examination to determine whether anemia has occurred.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zou Fu Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min home-news-image

What are the symptoms of functional uterine bleeding?

Functional uterine bleeding is primarily characterized by severe disruptions in menstrual cycle, amount, and duration. The disruptions in menstrual cycles typically manifest as an early onset of menstruation. The amount of menstruation is typically characterized as excessive, and the duration tends to be prolonged. Some women experience heavy bleeding or incomplete clearing, where they may remain unclean for half a month or even one or two months. This condition is primarily seen in adolescent girls and women going through menopause. Adolescent girls with uterine bleeding may experience anemia, and it could lead to infertility later on. Menopausal uterine bleeding may be accompanied by severe anemia, requiring some to be hospitalized for blood transfusions. Moreover, it is essential to perform an ultrasound if the uterine endometrium is thick, to rule out endometrial pathology.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
57sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of functional uterine bleeding?

When women experience dysfunctional uterine bleeding, the clinical symptoms are varied. For example, some women still have a relatively regular menstrual cycle, occurring monthly, but exhibit bleeding between periods, such as the most common ovulatory bleeding. Other women experience vaginal bleeding before or after their period, such as when there is an abnormality in the function of the corpus luteum, leading to brown vaginal discharge clearly related to the menstrual cycle. Some women have irregular menstrual cycles, with no predictability of when menstruation will occur, characterized by intermittent spotting or irregular vaginal bleeding. If such conditions persist, they can lead to anemia from blood loss in women, manifesting as dizziness, fatigue, sleepiness, and loss of appetite.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
34sec home-news-image

How is functional uterine bleeding treated?

Functional uterine bleeding is a common endocrine disorder among women. When functional uterine bleeding occurs, it is recommended that the patient visit a local hospital to determine the type of functional uterine bleeding. Functional uterine bleeding can be divided into ovulatory and anovulatory types, and the treatment plans for different types vary. Therefore, identifying the type is key to how it is treated. Currently, oral hormonal medications are commonly used to treat functional uterine bleeding clinically.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
50sec home-news-image

What to eat for functional uterine bleeding

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding cannot be treated with the same medication for everyone; it is crucial to consider the specific findings of medical examinations. If dysfunctional uterine bleeding has caused anemia, it is essential to start taking hematinics early. A few may need blood transfusion treatment and should also pay attention to a diet rich in iron and high in nutrients. Some cases of dysfunctional uterine bleeding can be treated with hormonal medications because it is originally caused by hormonal disorders in the body. The most commonly used treatment is short-acting contraceptives, but some cases of dysfunctional uterine bleeding require diagnostic curettage surgery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
58sec home-news-image

Is functional uterine bleeding related to a previous miscarriage?

Functional uterine bleeding in women, also known as dysfunctional uterine bleeding, occurs not due to organic lesions in the reproductive system but due to abnormalities in the function of the gonadal axis, leading to hormonal imbalances and dysfunctional uterine bleeding. This condition is generally unrelated to procedures like abortion or curettage. In some cases, it is triggered by issues such as delayed recovery of ovarian function following an abortion, excessive fatigue, or abnormalities in thyroid and adrenal gland functions, causing dysfunction of the gonadal axis. To address this issue, it is essential to first conduct tests, including a hormone panel and assessments of thyroid and adrenal gland functions, to identify the cause of the dysfunctional uterine bleeding and provide appropriate treatment.