Abnormal (Dysfunctional) Uterine Bleeding in Adolescents — Symptoms and Treatment

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding is very common in adolescents because of the high frequency of anovulatory cycles in this age group. The diagnosis of dysfunctional uterine bleeding is based on the exclusion of all the other causes of abnormal uterine bleeding in an adolescent. The most common causes of abnormal uterine bleeding include coagulopathies, pregnancy, trauma, and endocrinopathies. Menstrual history is essential in establishing the diagnosis and medical history should be focused on the exclusion of the possible causes of abnormal uterine bleeding. The determining of the hemoglobin levels is important because treatment is dependent on that. Mild dysfunctional uterine bleeding usually does not need any form of medical treatment. Moderate dysfunctional uterine bleeding should be treated with oral contraceptive pills and patients with severe dysfunctional uterine bleeding who are hemodynamically unstable should be admitted for inpatient care.