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 Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.

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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.

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Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Functional uterine bleeding refers to abnormal bleeding from the uterus.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding in women is when the reproductive system has no organic lesions but is caused by internal and external factors that lead to abnormal gonadal axis function, resulting in irregular vaginal bleeding. For example, it is common for women to experience large emotional fluctuations due to family changes or other events, or changes in their work and living environments, excessive fatigue, frequent staying up late, etc., all of which can cause abnormal gonadal axis function. Furthermore, some endocrine disorders in women, such as elevated blood glucose levels and abnormal thyroid or adrenal gland function, can also affect the function of the gonadal axis and cause dysfunctional uterine bleeding.