Treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding
Abnormal uterine bleeding (formerly called menometrorrhagia) is when you bleed between your monthly periods or when your periods are extremely heavy and/or prolonged. Normal menstrual flow typically lasts about five days and occurs every 21 to 35 days.
Your provider should know about any abnormal bleeding you’re experiencing. What’s causing your bleeding may be harmless. But your bleeding may be a sign of cancer or conditions that may negatively impact your fertility.
What is the difference between menorrhagia and menometrorrhagia?
Menometrorrhagia was once an umbrella term for two different conditions that sound nearly the same:
- Menorrhagia: excessive and/or prolonged menstruation.
- Metrorrhagia: excessive, prolonged and/or irregular bleeding unrelated to menstruation.
In 2011, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) changed the names to prevent confusion. Menorrhagia is now called heavy menstrual bleeding. Menometrorrhagia is now called abnormal uterine bleeding.
