Irregular Vaginal Bleeding Specialist

What is irregular vaginal bleeding?

Periods typically occur once every 28 days and last for five to seven days. Irregular bleeding is defined as any bleeding that falls outside these parameters – either occurring more frequently or less frequently, including spotting between periods – or bleeding that is abnormally heavy.

What causes irregular bleeding?

Irregular vaginal bleeding can be caused by many conditions, including:

• fibroids
• endometriosis
• polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• hormonal imbalances
• puberty and menopause
• pregnancy
• excessive exercise
• pelvic inflammatory disease
• tumors

Sometimes, diseases affecting other organs or interfering with clotting can also cause irregular periods. Dr. Naim will perform a careful and in-depth evaluation to determine the cause of your irregular bleeding so you can get the treatment that's most appropriate.

What is menorrhagia?

Menorrhagia is a condition that causes very heavy periods, which are defined as periods that last longer than seven days; periods that require the use of both tampons and pads at the same time; periods that require you to change protection every couple of hours and during the night; and periods that involve passing of clots. Menorrhagia can also cause significant fatigue and even anemia, and because it requires continually changing protection, it can have a significant impact on a woman's quality of life. Menorrhagia occurs most often in women near menopause.

How will Dr. Naim determine what's causing my irregular bleeding?

In addition to performing an exam and discussing your symptoms, Dr. Naim may order additional tests to identify the cause of irregular bleeding. Blood work and ultrasound can both be performed in the office, and other tests can be ordered as needed. Some irregular bleeding issues can be "inherited," so be sure to include any family history of irregular bleeding or risk factors when filling out your patient history, and mention them to Dr. Naim during your visit.