Abnormal uterine bleeding is any heavy or unusual bleeding from the uterus (through your vagina). It can occur at any time during your monthly cycle, including during your normal menstrual period.

Symptoms

Vaginal bleeding between periods is one symptom of abnormal uterine bleeding. Having extremely heavy bleeding during your period can also be considered abnormal uterine bleeding. Very heavy bleeding during a period and/or bleeding that lasts more than 7 days is called menorrhagia. For example, women may bleed enough to soak through 1 or more tampons or sanitary pads every hour.

Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. This can help find cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread.

Cervical cancer is the only gynecologic cancer for which there is a specific screening test, the Pap smear. The Pap test helps prevent cervical cancer by finding precancerous cells that might eventually become cervical cancer.

Before beginning treatment, the prescriber or patient may choose referral to a healthcare professional with expertise in pregnancy prevention.

Contraception counseling is an important part of the patient choosing her two contraceptive forms. If practitioners are not comfortable providing this counseling, they are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to refer patients to a qualified counselor.

The hormonal IUDs are small ‘T- shaped’ plastic devices that are inserted into the uterus (womb). The hormonal IUDs contain progestogen. This is a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone made naturally by the ovaries. The hormonal IUDs have a coating (membrane) that controls the slow release of progestogen into the uterus.

Procedure

The procedure takes about five minutes and is non-surgical. Most of the time, women don’t have any problems after insertion. But, sometimes Mirena IUD insertion can have complications. These include perforation of the uterus, nausea, bleeding or cramping.

Vaginal prolapse happens when the muscles that support the organs in a woman’s pelvis weaken. This weakening allows the uterus, urethra, bladder, or rectum to droop down into the vagina. If the pelvic floor muscles weaken enough, these organs can even protrude out of the vagina.

Symptoms

• a feeling of fullness in the vagina
• a lump at the opening of the vagina
• a sensation of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis
• a feeling like you’re “sitting on a ball”
• achy pain in your lower back that gets better when you lie down
• a need to urinate more often than usual

The HPV vaccine helps protect you against certain types of HPV that can lead to cancer or genital warts. Also known by the brand name Gardasil 9, the HPV vaccine protects against:

• HPV types 16 and 18 — the 2 types that cause 80% of cervical cancer cases.
• HPV types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts cases.
• Another 5 types of HPV (types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58) that can lead to cancer of the cervix, anus, vulva/vagina, penis, or throat.

All people ages 9 to 45 can get the HPV vaccine to protect against genital warts and/or different types of HPV that can cause cancer. It’s recommended that children get the vaccine at age 11 or 12, so they’re fully protected years before they become sexually active.