Template:Vaginal bleeding definitions

Vaginal Bleeding Definitions

• Menorrhagia: >7 day (prolonged) or >80 mL/day (excessive) uterine bleeding at regular intervals
• Metrorrhagia: irregular vaginal bleeding outside the normal cycle
• Menometrorrhagia - Excessive irregular vaginal bleeding
• Intermenstrual bleeding - variable amounts between regular menstrual periods
• Midcycle spotting - spotting just before ovulation (due to decline in estrogen)
• Postmenopausal bleeding - recurrence of bleeding after menopause
  • Never normal but usually not emergency, requires outpatient OB/GYN follow up
• Polymenorrhea: Frequent and light bleeding
• Postcoital bleeding: vaginal bleeding after intercourse, suggesting cervical pathology
• Postmenopausal bleeding: Any bleeding that occurs >6 mo after cessation of menstruation

• The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) introduced a new classification system known by the acronym PALM-COEIN
• PALM: structural causes
  • Polyp (AUB-P)
  • Adenomyosis (AUB-A)
  • Leiomyoma (AUB-L)
  • Malignancy and hyperplasia (AUB-M)
• COEIN: nonstructural causes
  • Coagulopathy (AUB-C)
  • Ovulatory dysfunction (AUB-O)
  • Endometrial (AUB-E)
  • Iatrogenic (AUB-I)
  • Not yet classified (AUB-N)