Do You Have Excessive Vaginal Bleeding ?

Questions about vaginal bleeding come up all the time in my role as a Houston OBGYN. From menopausal women experiencing excessive vaginal bleeding to young girls eagerly or fearfully awaiting their first period, everyone wants to talk about female bleeding. Through all of these conversations, there is an underlying question: is my vaginal bleeding normal? Is this considered excessive vaginal bleeding ?
To set fears at ease, I wanted to inform all women that most vaginal bleeding is completely normal.  Following are all the instances in which there may be a cause for concern:
1. Excessive or continuous bleeding between menstrual cycles.
2. Bleeding after menopause.
3. Bleeding during pregnancy.
4. Bleeding during or after sexual intercourse.
5. Periods that suddenly become heavier than usual.
6. Consistent periods that suddenly become inconsistent.
Some of these issues are not cause for alarm if they occur just once or once every now and then. For instance, if you have one period that seems a bit heavier than what is normal then your next period is normal, you probably have nothing to worry about.
The problems develop when bleeding happens at times it should not be happening or when the normal rate and timing of flow changes substantially. If you think you have excessive vaginal bleeding then you should contact your gynecologist.  Otherwise, most women have nothing to worry about.
If you would like to join the conversation about vaginal bleeding, contact your Houston OBGYN, Dr. Lisa Otey, for a personal consultation.