$Unique_ID{BRK00194} $Pretitle{} $Title{What is "DUB"?} $Subject{dysfunctional uterine bleeding DUB dysfunction Genitourinary System menses vagina vaginal menstrual bleeding menstruation Papanicolaou Pap smear gums brushing teeth progestin Endometriosis photocoagulated hysterectomy hysterectomies dilation curettage dilatation dilatator dilator curette} $Volume{J-14} $Log{ The Menstrual Cycle*0009101.scf Diseases of the Female Reproductive System*0009001.scf Dilation and Curettage*0009901.scf Dilator and Curette*0009902.scf} Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. What is "DUB"? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: I have trouble with menses that my physician labeled as "DUB". What does this mean? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 curettage, 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 a 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. ---------------- 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.