Terms Used to Describe Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
Vaginal bleeding is considered abnormal if it is not caused by pelvic disease, medicine, pregnancy, or another disease process. The following terms are used to describe abnormal vaginal bleeding:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Menorrhagia | Prolonged or excessive menstrual bleeding at regular intervals |
| Metrorrhagia | Irregular, frequent menstrual bleeding that is not prolonged or excessive |
| Menometrorrhagia | Prolonged or excessive menstrual bleeding at irregular intervals |
| Polymenorrhea | Regular menstrual bleeding at intervals of less than 21 days |
| Oligomenorrhea | Menstrual bleeding at intervals of more than 45 days |
| Amenorrhea | No menstrual bleeding for at least 3 usual cycle lengths |
| Intermenstrual | Menstrual bleeding between regular menstrual cycles |
Credits
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: June 20, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Reference H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
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