What causes abnormal uterine bleeding?

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What causes abnormal uterine bleeding?

Abnormal uterine bleeding can have many causes, including a variety of medical conditions and even stress:

Hormone imbalances

  • Anovulation.
  • Thyroid disease.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Weighing more than your ideal body weight can lead to hormone imbalances that may cause abnormal uterine bleeding, too.

Structural abnormalities in your uterus

  • Polyps.
  • Fibroids.
  • Adenomyosis.

Precancer and cancer

  • Uterine cancer.
  • Cervical cancer.
  • Vaginal cancer.
  • Ovarian cancer.
  • Endometrial hyperplasia.

Infections

  • Trichomoniasis.
  • Cervicitis.
  • Chlamydia.
  • Gonorrhea.
  • Endometritis.
  • Vaginitis.

Other medical conditions

  • Von Willebrand disease.
  • Liver disease.
  • Kidney disease.
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
  • Leukemia or platelet disorders.

Medications

  • Blood thinners and aspirin.
  • Hormone replacement therapy.
  • Tamoxifen (breast cancer drug).
  • Intrauterine devices (IUDs).
  • Birth control pills and injectables (NuvaRing®, Depo-Provera®, Implanon®).

Retained foreign bodies and trauma

Forgetting to remove an IUD can lead to infection and abnormal bleeding. Trauma to your uterus, caused by an injury, can also cause bleeding.

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