When You Visit Your Doctor - Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

• Do you have regular menstrual cycles?
• When was your last period?
• Is your bleeding always heavy or prolonged?
• How old were you when you started menstruating?
• How long ago did you develop abnormal bleeding?
• Are you sexually active?
• How many times have you been pregnant?
• What was the outcome of each pregnancy (live births, miscarriages, cesarean sections)?
• Have you ever had difficulty getting pregnant?
• What medications are you taking (including over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies such as ginseng)?
• Are you taking hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills?
• Have you ever had medications injected (Depo-Provera or Norplant) for birth control?
• Have you ever taken estrogen or tamoxifen?
• Are you taking warfarin or other blood thinners?
• Have you ever had an abnormal Pap smear?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

• Blood pressure, heart rate, weight
• Abdominal examination
• Pelvic exam

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

• Pregnancy test
• Blood tests such as complete blood count, coagulation (clotting) studies, and certain hormone tests (such as thyroid stimulating hormone, cortisol, prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone)
• Pelvic ultrasound
• Pap smear
• Endometrial biopsy.