What causes functional uterine bleeding?

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

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What causes functional uterine bleeding?

Functional uterine bleeding is commonly seen in adolescence and menopause, primarily caused by the absence of normal ovulation. Without ovulation, there is no production of progesterone, leading to irregular vaginal bleeding or heavy bleeding under the influence of estrogen. The main treatment method is menstrual regulation. For adolescent girls, menstrual regulation and ovulation induction treatment are needed, as this is caused by abnormal development of the gonadal axis. Progesterone can be used for menstrual regulation. In menopausal women, menopausal functional uterine bleeding mostly results from abnormal ovulation, essentially due to a lack of progesterone, so treatment with progesterone can be applied. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How to treat functional uterine bleeding?

Functional uterine bleeding should be treated according to the patient's age. If functional uterine bleeding occurs during adolescence, menstrual regulation treatment is needed. If it occurs during the reproductive age, it requires menstrual regulation and hemostasis, along with treatment to promote ovulation. If functional uterine bleeding occurs during menopause, it is mainly due to a lack of progesterone, and treatment with progesterone can be applied at this time. If there is endometrial thickening, dilation and curettage may be necessary, and the treatment plan should be determined based on the pathological results after the procedure.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Does functional uterine bleeding cause abdominal pain?

When women experience dysfunctional uterine bleeding, if this occurs during an anovulatory period, such as in adolescent or menopausal women, they generally do not experience abdominal pain. Some women have relatively regular menstrual cycles and only exhibit irregular bleeding between periods; these women still ovulate, and they may experience painful menstruation when their period comes. Furthermore, if dysfunctional uterine bleeding persists, it can lead to a decrease in a woman's immunity. Some women may develop concurrent gynecological inflammation, such as inflammation of the endometrium or adnexa. Even if menstruation does not occur, these women may experience abdominal pain, presenting as unilateral lower abdominal pain or heaviness, and the pain may intensify during menstruation.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is functional uterine bleeding easy to treat?

Functional uterine bleeding is a common gynecological disease. The cause of functional uterine bleeding is relatively clear, so it is easier to treat clinically. Currently, oral hormonal drugs are widely used to treat functional uterine bleeding. Most patients have their endocrine disorders readjusted after taking oral hormonal drugs, returning to normal levels. After several courses of hormonal drug treatment, most women can recover and resume regular menstrual cycles.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.