What is abnormal uterine bleeding?

Abnormal uterine bleeding affects 2-5% of women of reproductive age. It occurs when the cycle length and period duration differ from the normal values. It is a broad term that also encompasses bleeding or spotting between periods. Unfortunately this wide categorisation means that there are many potential causes of abnormal uterine bleeding and, often, diagnosis becomes a process of elimination.

When abnormal uterine bleeding takes the form of prolonged, or heavy bleeding it is termed menorrhagia. Medically a ‘heavy’ period is defined as losing more than 80ml blood and/or it having a duration of over 7 days.

Read more about abnormal uterine bleeding here.