Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding Treatment in Columbia, SC

If an individual experiences vaginal bleeding after menopause, while not on their period, or after sex, then it is considered to be abnormal. Essentially, any bleeding outside of a regular menstrual cycle can be considered as abnormal vaginal bleeding, including a cycle that lasts longer than 7 days.  Dr. Odom is a board-certified gynecologist with extensive experience diagnosing and treating women throughout Columbia, SC for abnormal vaginal bleeding. Call (803) 907-7300 to schedule an appointment at our office today!

What Are the Causes of Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding?

When bleeding occurs outside of typical standards for a woman’s menstrual cycle, it is often a sign of a health condition. The most common causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding include:

• Uterine fibroids
• Endometrial polyps
• Pregnancy
• A pelvic organ infection
• Side effects from a change in medication
• Extreme stress
• Imbalanced hormones
• Vaginal dryness
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Possible miscarriage
• Cancers of the reproductive system

How is Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding Diagnosed?

Because there can be many potential causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding, it may take some time, and answering a lot of questions from Dr. Odom in order to pinpoint exactly what is going wrong. It is advised to write down notes about your symptoms and when they occur, as all of this will contribute to your provider’s diagnosis.

Dr. Odom is also likely to perform a wide variety of tests to investigate what may be leading to your abnormal vaginal bleeding. This usually begins with a basic blood test, a pregnancy test, or STI testing. If these preliminary tests do not reveal any useful information, then your physician will likely move on to an ultrasound or other diagnostic procedures like a biopsy or hysteroscopy.

How is Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding Treated?

Once again, because of the vast number of reasons why a woman may be experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding, treatment options will need to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Fortunately, all of the aforementioned causes are associated with several treatment methods, which will all be thoroughly discussed between you and Dr. Odom to find the best possible solution.

Why You Need to Seek Treatment in Richland County

Some cases of abnormal vaginal bleeding may resolve on their own over time, but it is still so important to investigate the source of this bleeding with Dr. Odom because it could be caused by something as serious as cancer. In this instance, it is absolutely better to be safe than sorry.