Vaginal Bleeding

Call 911
if you are NOT pregnant and have abnormal vaginal bleeding with:

• Light-headedness
• Fainting
• Skin that appears unusually pale

1. See a Health Care Provider

• Call for an appointment with a health care provider. While many causes are minor, others can be serious.

2. Monitor Symptoms

• Keep track of your menstrual cycle to report symptoms to a doctor. On a calendar, take note of the dates and length and amount of bleeding (light, medium, heavy, or spotting).

3. Follow Up

• The health care provider will ask about your menstrual cycle and health history and do an exam to find the cause of bleeding.
• The health care provider may also order blood tests, transvaginal ultrasound, or endometrial biopsy.
• Uterine fibroids, hormonal imbalances, medications, polycystic ovary syndrome, gynecological cancers, and sexually transmitted infections are some causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding.

SOURCES:
Lee S. Benjamin, MD, spokesperson, American College of Emergency Medicine; associate program director of emergency medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: "Abnormal Uterine Bleeding."
Cleveland Clinic: "General Gynecology: Reasons for Problem Bleeding."
Merck Manuals: "Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding."