Gynecologic Health Gynecologic Health Basics

Understanding Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: Part 1

Summary & Participants

As many as 20 to 50 percent of all women develop fibroids. These benign muscle tumors usually grow in the uterus, and can cause pain, and in some cases, infertility. Join our panel as they discuss abnormal bleeding and fibroid concerns.

Medically Reviewed On: July 09, 2008

Webcast Transcript

PAUL MONIZ: I'm Paul Moniz. Thank you for joining us on this webcast. Today we are discussing abnormal uterine bleeding and it's connection to fibroids. Fibroids are benign muscle tumors that usually grow in the uterus, but they can occur elsewhere, causing in some cases pain and infertility. As many as 20-50 percent of all women actually develop them. If you are suffering from abnormal bleeding, you may have what is known as a submucosal fibroid. Here to talk about that is a gynecologist and one of his patients.

To my left is Dr. Martin Goldstein. He is the Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mt. Sinai Hospital. Next to him is Valerie. She is a 50-year-old mother of two who has agreed to join us. We are not showing her face because of the sensitive nature of this topic, but she is willing to share her story. Thank you very much for coming here Valerie. We appreciate it.

Dr. Goldstein, let's begin with you. What defines abnormal uterine bleeding?

MARTIN GOLDSTEIN, MD: Abnormal uterine bleeding can either take the form of irregular bleeding, which is other than at a regular time during the menstrual cycle, or profuse or heavy bleeding. Submucous fibroids usually cause profuse or heavy bleeding, which sometimes leads to anemia. If the anemia and heavy bleeding are distracting to the patient and interferes with the patient's lifestyle, a woman will go to her gynecologist and make a complaint about this. Irregular bleeding can be either on a functional basis, meaning due to a polyp or due to a fibroid. Or, it can be on a dysfunctional basis, due to a hormonal irregularity.

PAUL MONIZ: What's interesting about Valerie's story is that women sometimes don't realize that they are bleeding abnormally. Is that right? Let's first start with you doctor.

MARTIN GOLDSTEIN, MD: That is correct. A woman begins menstruating probably at about age 13 to 14. Most women develop a menstrual pattern and accept that pattern as "normal." In some circumstances, the amount of bleeding that a woman will have is heavier than normal, and it can lead to anemia.

PAUL MONIZ: Valerie, just to share your story. About a year ago in May you had some difficulty. You were tired. Did you notice that you were bleeding excessively?

VALERIE: I hadn't noticed that I was bleeding any more excessively in the last seven or eight months prior to feeling so tired.

PAUL MONIZ: What kinds of symptoms were you experiencing at the time?

VALERIE: I felt very weak and tired. Since I'm a psychoanalyst, I knew that it wasn't depression. I knew there was something physically wrong with me, so I needed to get it checked out.

PAUL MONIZ: How common are the symptoms that Valerie just mentioned doctor?

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