What causes functional uterine bleeding?

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 04, 2024
00:00
00:00

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding refers to the situation where a woman's uterus, ovaries, and brain do not have any actual organic lesions, such as the absence of uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts, yet there are functional changes that lead to bleeding. For example, the most common causes include excessive mental stress during schooling, emotional changes due to the death of a family member, or changes in living environment due to business trips, all of which can trigger uterine bleeding. In some cases, uterine bleeding may be a manifestation of a systemic disease; for instance, some women may experience it due to severe anemia or as a result of prolonged dieting and poor dietary habits leading to malnutrition and weight loss, especially if there is a sudden drop in weight. Additionally, some women may have metabolic diseases that can also cause uterine bleeding. Metabolic diseases include conditions such as elevated blood sugar, abnormal lipid levels, or anomalies in thyroid and adrenal gland functions.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
49sec home-news-image

How to examine functional uterine bleeding?

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding primarily requires checking for any present anemia with routine blood tests and coagulation studies. Ultrasound is needed to examine the pelvis and uterine cavity, including the thickness of the endometrium. Treatment methods should be considered based on these results. Some cases can be managed with medication; others may require another diagnostic curettage to further clarify the condition of the endometrium; some may need contraceptives or similar treatments for 3-6 months, as this is fundamentally an endocrine issue involving hormonal imbalance, where hormonal treatment tends to be quite effective.

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 Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
58sec home-news-image

Is functional uterine bleeding serious?

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
56sec home-news-image

Functional uterine bleeding is what?

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is caused by abnormal ovulation, resulting in abnormal uterine bleeding. In adolescence, due to the immature development of the gonadal axis, most do not have normal ovulation. Although there is follicular development, the absence of ovulation means that the endometrium is not affected by progesterone. Therefore, when estrogen breakthrough bleeding occurs, it may manifest as irregular vaginal bleeding, excessive menstrual flow, or prolonged menstrual periods, which is the blood supply during adolescence. In menopause, women can also experience dysfunctional uterine bleeding due to ovarian failure, immature follicle development, abnormal ovulation, or the absence of ovulation, which can all cause irregular vaginal bleeding.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
41sec home-news-image

Is functional uterine bleeding serious?

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding severity varies from person to person, depending on the specific bleeding situation and individual differences. Some people have mild symptoms and can improve by changing their lifestyle, such as losing weight, gaining weight if underweight, avoiding staying up late, and maintaining a regular life schedule. However, in some cases, dysfunctional uterine bleeding can lead to severe anemia, ineffective drug treatments, or endometrial changes, requiring procedures like curettage.