Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Treatment with IUDs in Richmond, KY

Baptist Health Richmond: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Treatment with IUDs

IUDs can help prevent abnormal uterine bleeding from many conditions like adenomyosis. Learn more about how to treat uterine bleeding treatment.

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Treatment with IUDs in Richmond, KY HealthTalks Transcript

Ian Holbrook, MD, OB/GYN:
Abnormal uterine bleeding is a broad general term that can include a lot of different things with regard to irregular or abnormal bleeding, but I think for our discussion, focusing on bleeding that’s heavy, prolonged and/or frequent is probably best. Common structural causes would include polyps, adenomyosis, fibroids and hyperplasia.

There’s a lot of options for treatment. In the medical treatment category, the easiest and best thing is something called an IUD, an intrauterine device. It’s a T-shaped device that we can place inside the cavity of the uterus and it releases a progesterone hormone. The hormone helps to make the tissue inside the uterine cavity thin, such that bleeding is less. We have a variety of shapes, sizes and dosing options, so we can tailor the device to the specific patient and their issues. The devices work over a period of several years, three to five is typical depending on the device. The devices can have really good bleeding profiles, about 60% of patients don’t bleed at all. The device can be placed in the office or in the operating room as part of a larger procedure.

Quality of life is really important. Heavy and bothersome bleeding doesn’t have to be something that gets in the way of your pursuit of things that make you happy. You can seek treatment, and we have a lot of options that can make a significant impact on quality of life.

Next Steps and Useful Resources:

Find a Provider Near You
Sign Up For Our Free Email Newsletter
Treat Endometriosis Using Birth Control
Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Options