Symptoms

Symptoms of dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) include:

• Vaginal bleeding that occurs more often than every 21 days or farther apart than 35 days (a normal teen menstrual cycle can last up to 45 days).
• Vaginal bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days (normally lasts 4 to 6 days).
• Blood loss of more than 80 mL (3 fl oz) each menstrual cycle [normally about 30 mL (1 fl oz)]. If you are passing blood clots and soaking through your usual pads or tampons each hour for 2 or more hours, your bleeding is considered severe.

Most menstrual blood is lost in the first 3 days of the period. So excessive blood loss is possible without having exceptionally long periods.

The symptoms of DUB can also be signs of another, more serious condition with similar symptoms. If your abnormal vaginal bleeding is undiagnosed, see your doctor.

What Happens

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) occurs most often before age 20 and after age 40.

• Teen years. Some teens have times of irregular vaginal bleeding. This usually gets better over time as hormone levels even out and the menstrual cycle becomes more regular. If you need treatment, your doctor may give you hormones to help regulate your menstrual cycle. He or she may also prescribe medicine to reduce bleeding.
• Reproductive years. Some women in their 20s and 30s have dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Sometimes it's because of abnormal changes in hormone levels. And sometimes the reason is not known. If your doctor rules out serious causes of vaginal bleeding, he or she may diagnose you with dysfunctional uterine bleeding without knowing why it is happening. Your treatment depends on whether you are planning to have children.
• After age 40: Perimenopausal and menopausal years. After age 40, women tend to have changing hormone levels. During this time before your period stops (perimenopause), you may not always ovulate. This can lead to irregular vaginal bleeding. You can expect this bleeding to go away on its own when menopause is complete. Your treatment options depend on your childbearing plans and how much your symptoms affect your daily life. Your doctor may recommend a wait-and-see approach, hormones, or a surgical procedure.

No matter what your age, see your doctor if you have irregular vaginal bleeding.