$Unique_ID{BRK00194}
$Pretitle{Genitourinary System}
$Title{What is "DUB"?}
$Subject{uterine bleeding DUB dysfunctional}
$Volume{J-14}
$Log{
The Menstrual Cycle*0009101.scf
Diseases of the Female Organs*0009001.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What is "DUB"?


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QUESTION:  I have trouble with menses that my physician labeled as "DUB".
What does this mean?

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ANSWER:  DUB stands for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, which means bleeding
from the vagina that is excessive or that is unrelated to your normal
menstrual cycle.  Most women with DUB are either teenagers who have just
started to menstruate or older women who are undergoing menopause.
     Normal menstruation takes place every 21 to 35 days and most women lose
20 to 60 milliliters of blood or a little less than two ounces over the entire
period.  Anything more than 80 milliliters loss during a period is considered
excessive, but estimating your own flow is not easy.  If you are suddenly
soaking through pads or tampons at a faster rate (six pads a day when you
usually use three), you should suspect excessive bleeding.
     The bleeding you experience is not related to menstruation, but at the
same time, there is no other diagnosable problem, so, in a way, DUB is a
diagnosis left after all the others have been eliminated.  Other causes of
abnormal vaginal bleeding include pregnancy, pelvic diseases, blood
coagulation problems, thyroid problems, uterine cancer, and benign uterine
tumors.
     To diagnose DUB, your physician will need a history of your menstrual
cycle--at what age you started having periods, what your normal cycle length
is, whether you've ever been pregnant, and what other signs of a menstrual
cycle (such as breast swelling or premenstrual tension) you feel.  He or she
will give you a pelvic examination, a pregnancy test, and a Papanicolaou test
(Pap smear) to check for certain types of cancer.  You may be asked to take
your basal body temperature every morning for a month to see whether you are
ovulating.
     In about 25% of teenagers with excessive bleeding, blood coagulation
problems are present.  Other symptoms are easy bruising or bleeding from the
gums while brushing teeth.  If coagulation is normal, lack of ovulation may be
the problem and a physician will prescribe oral birth control or progestin
pills to regulate the menstrual cycle.
     In an older woman, especially if profuse bleeding is occurring, a
physician may choose to perform dilatation and curretage, a minor surgical
procedure where the uterus is dilated and its interior is scraped and examined
for signs of endometriosis.  Endometriosis can be photocoagulated with laser,
but older women who have had as many children as they wish may consider
hysterectomy.  DUB not related to endometriosis may also be controlled with
various types of hormones.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
