I'm a 32 year old healthy female who has
been getting a period for about 18 years
now. I have NEVER had an irregular cycle.
Always 28 day cycles - sometimes I'll
start my period a day or two later than
expected, but for the most part I'm
extremely regular. About 8 months ago I
started spotting in between periods. The
spotting begins approximately 5-7 days
after my period ends and it usually lasts
until my next period begins (I generally
only have one week without any
bleeding/spotting). So, I'll spot for
approximately 7-10 days and then I'll get
my period, which is a full 7 day period.
The spotting is dark brown and isn't too
heavy, but is heavy enough to have to wear
a panty liner. This month I had the
spotting then, to my surprise, my period
began about 9 days early! This has NEVER
happened before. Please see "current med.
cond." above to view all tests & results.
Could this be early menopause? Could this
be a result of an abortion that I had 1
year ago?
Given your symptoms, you may be
experiencing a kind of irregular uterine
bleeding (metrorrhagia). Reasons for
metrorrhagia are divided into a few
groups:
1. Functional reasons: ovulation bleeding,
failure of the yellow body, un-ovulation
bleeding, disturbances of the
hypothalamus, pre-menopause etc.;
2. Uterine (organic) reasons: complicated
pregnancy, endometriosis, uterine
infections, sub-mucosal myomas,
endometrial or cervical polyps,
endometrial or cervical cancers, etc.;
3. Other reasons: IUD, hormonal
contraception, systemic diseases
(diabetes, obesity, increased prolactine,
connective tissue diseases, thyroid
disorders, systemic infections, etc.),
heart failure, liver sirrosis, coagulation
disorders, medicines (neuroleptics,
metoclopramid, high doses of aspirin,
anti-estrogens, doxicyclin, etc.).
Early menopause can be manifested with
irregular bleeding but that should be
proven with an endometrial biopsy (lack of
progesterone effect over the endometrium)
and no progesterone will be detected in
the blood in the second phase of the cycle
(lack of ovulation). An abortion can’t
cause irregular bleeding one year
afterwards.
You made the most of the medical
investigations that are necessary to
confirm or exclude the conditions
mentioned above. I think you left out
coagulation tests to examine your
blood’s coagulation ability. If it is
okay, the only procedure left is
endometrial curettage. Endometrial
curettage is a diagnostic tool but also a
therapeutic procedure.
You may want to consult your gynecologist
about this.
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