{"id":1414,"date":"2022-03-07T11:27:52","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T11:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/?p=1414"},"modified":"2025-05-21T12:08:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T16:08:37","slug":"dysfunctional-uterine-bleeding-dub-types-causes-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/dysfunctional-uterine-bleeding-dub-types-causes-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"DUB: Causes, Types &#038; Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DUB is the medical abbreviation for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and it commonly occurs when there is a disbalance in sex hormones. If you&#8217;re curious about this condition, its types, causes, and possible treatment methods, this article is perfect for you. You&#8217;ll learn all of that and more in this expert article on dysfunctional uterine bleeding. We also elaborate on ovulatory DUB, operative hysteroscopy, and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before jumping straight in, make sure to seek out professional advice and guidance, especially if you or a loved one are dealing with dysfunctional uterine bleeding. We recommend <\/span><a href=\"\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/obgyn-services-boca-raton-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>OBGYN services in Boca Raton<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> due to reliability, professional results, and friendliness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That being said, what does DUB mean? What are the most common symptoms? Is operative hysteroscopy the only solution to DUB? Find out all of this and more below.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Does DUB Mean?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned, the DUB medical abbreviation refers to dysfunctional uterine bleeding. This condition is sometimes called anovulatory bleeding; it&#8217;s vaginal bleeding that varies from a patient&#8217;s regular menstrual cycle. Signals from sex hormones trigger the woman&#8217;s normal menstrual cycle and cause abnormal bleeding. In a nutshell, DUB occurs when the hormonal signals of the menstrual cycle are thrown off. As a result, the woman experiences alternating menstrual periods that are light and heavy, unpredictable longer and shorter cycles, and spotting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some medications and hormonal conditions can trigger the onset of DUB.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always make sure you consult healthcare specialists for expert advice and proper diagnosis. For example, consulting specialists like <\/span><a href=\"\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/david-ellman\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. David S Ellman<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are a good choice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, what does DUB mean? As the name suggests, it refers to abnormal uterine bleeding outside of a female patient\u2019s regular menstrual cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Types of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1417 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Types-of-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding.jpg\" alt=\"Portrait of Beautiful Latina Patient Consulting With Doctor on Tablet\" width=\"1000\" height=\"527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Types-of-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-200x105.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Types-of-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Types-of-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-400x211.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Types-of-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-600x316.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Types-of-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Types-of-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-800x422.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Types-of-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The DUB medical abbreviation refers to two types of dysfunctional uterine bleeding: Anovulatory DUB and ovulatory DUB. We discuss each of these in detail below.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approximately 90% of dysfunctional uterine bleeding happens when a woman is not ovulating. <\/span><b>Anovulatory periods<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are frequent during reproductive age (including perimenopause and early puberty). Sometimes, a woman&#8217;s body is not adequately developed and unable to release a mature egg. As a result, the mound of tissue that creates progesterone (the corpus luteum) doesn&#8217;t form, and the body produces estrogen continuously. This, in turn, results in uterus lining overgrowth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding happens because of a delay in the complete maturation of a teenager&#8217;s reproductive system. That being said, the mechanisms remain unknown. Nevertheless, the etiology includes exercise, psychological stress, weight (rapid change, anorexia, obesity), neoplasm, endocrinopathy, and narcotics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When assessing anovulatory DUB, the doctor will begin with a physical examination and analyze the patient&#8217;s medical history. Moreover, you will require laboratory assessment of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), hemoglobin, prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), T4, androgen profile, and pregnancy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Ovulatory DUB<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, on the other hand, happens during ovulation. About 10% of dysfunctional uterine bleeding cases occur in women who are ovulating, but progesterone secretion is prolonged due to low estrogen levels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on some evidence, ovulatory DUB may be linked with fragile blood vessels in the patient&#8217;s uterus. This can show a possible endocrine dysfunction, leading to metrorrhagia or menorrhagia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To understand one and the other DUB medical abbreviation, it&#8217;s helpful to look at normal menstrual physiology. A normal menstrual cycle has a proliferative and secretory phase. During the first stage, the body will have more estrogen than progesterone. Whereas the second stage begins when ovulation induces the production of progesterone. A woman will experience menstrual bleeding after estrogen and progesterone secretion tapers off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A normal menstrual cycle lasts around 28 days and lasts about four days.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Causes of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several known causes for abnormal uterine bleeding. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reproductive tract abnormalities:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Endometriosis<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fibroids<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adenomyosis<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benign pelvic lesions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Polyps, endometrial and cervical<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infections<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trauma (such as post-coital injuries)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malignancy (cancer of the vagina, cervix, uterus, ovaries)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnancy-related complications:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Molar pregnancy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ectopic pregnancy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spontaneous abortion (missed, incomplete, threatened)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Placental polyp<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Factors related to medical procedures or medicines:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contraceptives<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oral contraceptives<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intrauterine devices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anticoagulation therapy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Levonorgestrel implant<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medroxyprogesterone contraceptive injection<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certain psychiatric drugs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hormone replacement therapy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Systematic diseases:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypothyroidism<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coagulation disorder<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cirrhosis or liver failure<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On top of this, sexually transmitted diseases or STDs can cause dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Because STDs can cause inflammation (such as chlamydia and gonorrhea), you may experience DUB. Bleeding as a result of an STD usually happens after sexual intercourse.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Symptoms of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most common DUB symptom is bleeding outside of a regular menstrual period. However, women may experience DUB within a period. Look for the following symptoms to check if you have dysfunctional uterine bleeding:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spotting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bleeding later than 35 days from your last period<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bleeding less than 21 days from your last period<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bleeding that lasts more than a week<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heavy menstrual bleeding<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You notice many large clots<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bleeding between your regular menstrual periods<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may also experience pelvic pressure, pain, or bloating due to dysfunctional uterine bleeding. In case you also notice some of the following symptoms, immediately consult a healthcare expert:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pale skin<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased heart rate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fainting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weakness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dizziness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Positive pregnancy test and bleeding<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soaking a pad every hour<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Proper DUB Diagnosis<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you already know, to diagnose dysfunctional uterine bleeding, your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and your menstrual cycle. By answering these questions, your doctor will gain insight into your overall reproductive health and whether you&#8217;re at risk of certain disorders such as endometriosis or PCOS. In addition, always tell your doctor if you are taking medications such as birth control.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Firstly, your healthcare provider may suggest an ultrasound to analyze the reproductive organs. This way, you will know if you have abnormal growths such as fibroids or polyps. Next, you&#8217;ll need blood tests to measure complete blood count and hormone levels. Hormone levels are an excellent way to see the cause of the bleeding. For instance, patients with a low red blood cell count may have anemia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operative hysteroscopy is a procedure to locate and treat issues with the uterus. Before operative hysteroscopy, you will <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myhealth.alberta.ca\/Health\/aftercareinformation\/pages\/conditions.aspx?hwid=ud2893#:~:text=An%20operative%20hysteroscopy%20is%20a,you%20sleep%20or%20feel%20relaxed.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">receive medicine for relaxation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or for sleep. The procedure is painless.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the bleeding happens due to abnormal growth or if the uterine lining is too thick, the healthcare provider may want to check the uterine tissue. A biopsy will quickly reveal if there are any abnormal cell changes in your uterine lining. Abnormal cells can point to cancer or hormonal imbalances.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Treating Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1418 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Treating-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor and Female Patient Sitting at the Desk and Talking in Clinic Near Window. \" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Treating-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Treating-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Treating-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Treating-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Treating-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Treating-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2022\/05\/Treating-Dysfunctional-Uterine-Bleeding.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you received a DUB diagnosis, worry not; there are many possible treatment methods for you. If the condition happens during puberty, you don&#8217;t have to do anything, as the hormones tend to regulate on their own. However, you will need to know the underlying cause of bleeding to receive the proper treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the simplest ways to treat DUB is with oral contraceptives containing synthetic progesterone and estrogen. Both these hormones regulate and control your menstrual cycle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other contraceptive methods include the progestin implant and progestin IUDs. Alternatively, if the bleeding is heavy and low-dose medications aren&#8217;t a good fit, you may receive intravenous estrogen until your condition gets better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These treatment methods are ideal for people who are not planning to conceive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, patients who want to conceive and don&#8217;t have extreme bleeding may choose clomiphene, an ovulation-stimulating drug (or Clomid). By stimulating ovulation, prolonged menstrual bleeding stops.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Give Us a Call Today<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you need expert help, advice, or if you\u2019re seeking outstanding results, give us a call. Our team of professionals is here to cater to your needs. Book an appointment today.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DUB is the medical abbreviation for dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and it commonly occurs when there is a disbalance in sex hormones. If you&#8217;re curious about this condition, its types, causes, and possible treatment methods, this article is perfect for you. You&#8217;ll learn all of that and more in this expert article on dysfunctional uterine bleeding.  [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1416,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[263,264,265,266],"class_list":["post-1414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gynecology","tag-dub-medical-abbreviation","tag-operative-hysteroscopy","tag-ovulatory-dub","tag-what-does-dub-mean"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1414"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1414\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}