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Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding in Adolescents

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Background

What is dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB)?

  • DUB refers to painless endometrial bleeding that is prolonged, excessive, and irregular and not attributable to any underlying structural or systemic disease.1, 2, 3

  • Considerable menstrual cycle variability is common among adolescents, especially in the first two or three years post-menarche.1, 3, 4, 5

  • In adolescents, the vast majority of excessive uterine bleeding is due to anovulatory cycles. It can take up to six years before the majority of cycles

Evaluating the Patient

What are the key questions for the medical history?

  • Detailed information about the adolescent's menstrual history including:

    • age at menarche (to the nearest month)

    • length of cycles

    • duration of bleeding

    • quantity and color of blood

    • presence or absence of clots

    • presence of any pain or cramping

  • Accurate medical history identifying any potential underlying conditions is essential. The review of systems should specifically address other unusual or abnormal bleeding, psychosocial stressors, recent weight

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References (7)

  • E.A. Iglesias et al.

    Menstrual cycle abnormalities: diagnosis and management

    Adolesc Med: State of the Art Reviews

    (1999)
  • A. Altchek

    Dysfunctional uterine bleeding in adolescence

    Clin Obstet Gynecol

    (1977)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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