Vaginal Bleeding: Understanding the Causes

For every woman, her regular menstrual period can be annoying especially if it means being immobilized for a while, unable to do the most routine of her daily chores. For some, they consider it a sort of curse, especially with the pain that often comes with the menstrual cycle. However, women are not one to easily complain about it because they know that their menstrual period is a testament to their womanhood. And with womanhood, there is always the possibility of being able to bear a child. And that, for most if not all of women, is the greatest joy a female may experience.

What Vaginal Bleeding Is

A woman’s menstrual cycle may be described simply as vaginal bleeding, although the term may be too simple to describe such an occurrence. Vaginal bleeding refers to the bleeding in females that is a physiological response during non-conceptional menstrual cycle, or it may be caused by hormonal or organic problems of the reproductive system. Although such bleeding may occur at any age, an investigation is always imperative as it may indicate more health problems that demand immediate attention. On the other hand, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy may indicate a complicated pregnancy that needs immediate medical attention.

The Different Causes of Vaginal Bleeding

Vaginal bleeding may be due to any of the following causes under the different stages:

1.Bleeding in Children. Vaginal bleeding before the menarche (the female’s first menstrual period) may indicate the presence of a foreign body in the vagina, sexual               molestation or vaginal infection.

2.Bleeding in Pre-menopausal Women. On the other hand, if bleeding occurs in postmenopausal women, the following are the most common reasons:
    
a)  Menstruation:-  Menstruation can be classified as heavy or light. The former is termed hypermenorrhea, while the latter is hypomenorrhea. Moreover, bleeding                 may occur in between periods, and it is termed intermenstrual bleeding.

b) Dysfunctional uterine bleeding. This is often due to hormonal imbalance.

c) Cervical cancer may cause vaginal bleeding especially after sexual intercourse.
    
d) In cases after immediate pregnancy, vaginal bleeding may be due to the products of conception that are still retained in the uterus.

e) Tumors in the uterus known as uterine fibroids can also cause vaginal bleedings.

3. Bleeding in Pregnant Women. If vaginal bleeding occurs in pregnant women, immediate medical attention is necessary to ensure that delivery will be safe,    emphasizing the health of both the mother and the child. If the bleeding is light, it may be due to a rupture in a small vein on the outer rim of the placenta. It can also be      an indicator of a possible miscarriage, especially if it occurs during the early stages of pregnancy. In cases like this, an ultrasound is badly needed to determine the cause   of vaginal bleeding.

4. Bleeding in Post-menopausal Women. For postmenopausal women, vaginal bleeding may herald a gauntlet of problems, any of which needs medical treatment. One such     reason is endometrial cancer, which is a malignant type that affects the lining of the uterus.

About the author

Florida Abortion Clinic. Dr. James S. Pendergraft opened the Orlando Women's Center in March 1996 to provide a full range of health care for women, including Florida abortion clinic, physical examinations, family planning, counseling, laboratory services and sexually transmitted disease screening and counseling.

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