cass0302
09-14-2007, 04:02 AM
Hi,
Apologies for the long post, I'm a 22 yr old female who's experiencing some abnormal bleeding and it's got me very concerned and quite frustrated.
Just over 3 weeks ago I started spotting bright pink blood, quite light at first but then it progressed to heavier, brown blood. The bleeding continued for a week and then stopped. Four or five days later it started again, this time bright pink the entire time. It continued for about 5-6 days then disappeared. Two days ago, after about a week with no bleeding, it started again. It was again bright pink.
I would have put this down to a strange period (and did, for the first few days of all this) except that something felt wrong and the bleeding just doesn't seem right. Firstly, the bleeding started on the 21st, and my periods normally start right at the end/very beginning of the month. Secondly, I'm on Implanon and have had amenorrhea since I had it re-inserted in May.
I would say that it's the Implanon playing up, except that I'm pretty sure I actually had that happen before (Nov/Dec last year, after having my first implant for just over 2.5 years) and this seems different. The blood doesn't seem to 'flow' like it does with a period or when the 'contimual bleeding' from the implanon(?) started - it's mostly when I wipe and it's definately a different colour. I've never had bright pink spotting or continual brown before.
I'm not sure if any of this is related, but I've put on over 5 kgs in the last 2.5 weeks, have cramps and feel bloated. I'm also insulin-dependent diabetic and was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome earlier last year.
I went to see the doctor yesterday. She ordered bloods and took a smear. She noted the blood when looking at the cervix but said she couldn't see any obvious reason for it. She sent me for both an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound.
The abdo ultrasound came back normal, the one for the pelvis detected "atrophic endometrium measuring 2mm" (?? What does this mean??) and peripheral follicles on each ovary. There was no free fluid or abnormal adnexal mass found.
Any ideas on what could be wrong with me? *is hopeful* I'm really worried and also trying to finish a thesis, which perhaps not surprisingly, is hard to do with such added stress and frustration...
Hope someone can help...
Apologies for the long post, I'm a 22 yr old female who's experiencing some abnormal bleeding and it's got me very concerned and quite frustrated.
Just over 3 weeks ago I started spotting bright pink blood, quite light at first but then it progressed to heavier, brown blood. The bleeding continued for a week and then stopped. Four or five days later it started again, this time bright pink the entire time. It continued for about 5-6 days then disappeared. Two days ago, after about a week with no bleeding, it started again. It was again bright pink.
I would have put this down to a strange period (and did, for the first few days of all this) except that something felt wrong and the bleeding just doesn't seem right. Firstly, the bleeding started on the 21st, and my periods normally start right at the end/very beginning of the month. Secondly, I'm on Implanon and have had amenorrhea since I had it re-inserted in May.
I would say that it's the Implanon playing up, except that I'm pretty sure I actually had that happen before (Nov/Dec last year, after having my first implant for just over 2.5 years) and this seems different. The blood doesn't seem to 'flow' like it does with a period or when the 'contimual bleeding' from the implanon(?) started - it's mostly when I wipe and it's definately a different colour. I've never had bright pink spotting or continual brown before.
I'm not sure if any of this is related, but I've put on over 5 kgs in the last 2.5 weeks, have cramps and feel bloated. I'm also insulin-dependent diabetic and was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome earlier last year.
I went to see the doctor yesterday. She ordered bloods and took a smear. She noted the blood when looking at the cervix but said she couldn't see any obvious reason for it. She sent me for both an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound.
The abdo ultrasound came back normal, the one for the pelvis detected "atrophic endometrium measuring 2mm" (?? What does this mean??) and peripheral follicles on each ovary. There was no free fluid or abnormal adnexal mass found.
Any ideas on what could be wrong with me? *is hopeful* I'm really worried and also trying to finish a thesis, which perhaps not surprisingly, is hard to do with such added stress and frustration...
Hope someone can help...
Sponsor
JustJulie
09-15-2007, 01:06 AM
First of all "atrophic," simply means a wasting or decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part owing to disease, injury, or lack of use. The "endometrium," is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus and builds up and sheds each month in the menstrual cycle. At 2 mm that is very thin, which is the cause of your bleeding problems. Age and weight play a role as well.
An ovarian follicle is that little cavity that grows an egg set for release at mid-cycle, or ovulation. The ovarian follicle is both a result of and an integral part of the menstrual cycle. It contains a little puddle of fluid that functions in the development of the egg. The release of the egg, called ovulation, is a midpoint in the cycle. If ovulation fails to occur, the rest of the cycle is often suspended or irregular. The follicle is therefore a product of function, a word which will figure importantly below.
When a follicle gets to be bigger than about two centimeters or so, semantics dictate that it be referred to as a cyst. That's the differencesemantics. Of course, a cyst can be thought of as an exaggerated follicle, but it is still a matter of normal functioning.
** takes a breather
Polycystic ovary disease is characterized by enlarged ovaries with multiple small cysts, an abnormally high number of follicles at various states of maturation, and a thick, scarred capsule surrounding each ovary.Polycystic ovary disease is an endocrine disorder, which means normal hormone cycles are interrupted. Hormones direct many functions throughout the body. For example, hormones regulate reproductive functions, including the normal development of eggs in the ovaries. It is not completely understood why or how hormone cycles are interrupted, although there are several working theories.
In polycystic ovary disease, under-developed follicles accumulate in the ovaries. Follicles are sacs within the ovaries that contain eggs. The eggs in these follicles do not mature and, therefore, cannot be released from the ovaries. Instead, they accumulate as cysts in the ovary. This can contribute to infertility. The lack of follicle maturation and the inability to ovulate are likely caused by low levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ,and higher-than-normal levels of androgens (male hormones), produced in the ovary.
Insulin resistance also seems to be a key feature in polycystic ovarian syndrome. In addition to other hormones, insulin helps regulate ovarian function. When someone is insulin resistant, this means that cells throughout the body do not readily respond to the insulin circulating in the blood. For this reason, the amount of insulin remains high in the blood (hyperinsulinemia). High levels of insulin can contribute to lack of ovulation, high androgen levels, infertility, and early pregnancy loss.
Polycystic ovaries are two to five times larger than normal ovaries, and they have a white, thick, tough outer covering. Women are usually diagnosed when in their 20s or 30s.
Many women with polycystic ovary disease have irregular periodsWomen diagnosed with this disorder frequently have a mother or sister with similar symptoms commonly associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Symptoms
If you have polycystic ovary disease, you are likely to experience some of the following symptoms:
Abnormal, irregular, or scanty (very light or infrequent) menstrual periods
Absent periods , usually (but not always) after having one or more normal menstrual periods during puberty (secondary amenorrhea)
Weight gain, even obesity
Insulin resistance and diabetes
Infertility
Increased hair growth;
Virilization -- development of male sex characteristics in a female. This may include :
an increase in body hair,
facial hair,
a deepening of the voice,
male-pattern baldness,
and clitoral enlargement.
Decreased breast size
Aggravation of acne
A long responce..sorry.
An ovarian follicle is that little cavity that grows an egg set for release at mid-cycle, or ovulation. The ovarian follicle is both a result of and an integral part of the menstrual cycle. It contains a little puddle of fluid that functions in the development of the egg. The release of the egg, called ovulation, is a midpoint in the cycle. If ovulation fails to occur, the rest of the cycle is often suspended or irregular. The follicle is therefore a product of function, a word which will figure importantly below.
When a follicle gets to be bigger than about two centimeters or so, semantics dictate that it be referred to as a cyst. That's the differencesemantics. Of course, a cyst can be thought of as an exaggerated follicle, but it is still a matter of normal functioning.
** takes a breather
Polycystic ovary disease is characterized by enlarged ovaries with multiple small cysts, an abnormally high number of follicles at various states of maturation, and a thick, scarred capsule surrounding each ovary.Polycystic ovary disease is an endocrine disorder, which means normal hormone cycles are interrupted. Hormones direct many functions throughout the body. For example, hormones regulate reproductive functions, including the normal development of eggs in the ovaries. It is not completely understood why or how hormone cycles are interrupted, although there are several working theories.
In polycystic ovary disease, under-developed follicles accumulate in the ovaries. Follicles are sacs within the ovaries that contain eggs. The eggs in these follicles do not mature and, therefore, cannot be released from the ovaries. Instead, they accumulate as cysts in the ovary. This can contribute to infertility. The lack of follicle maturation and the inability to ovulate are likely caused by low levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ,and higher-than-normal levels of androgens (male hormones), produced in the ovary.
Insulin resistance also seems to be a key feature in polycystic ovarian syndrome. In addition to other hormones, insulin helps regulate ovarian function. When someone is insulin resistant, this means that cells throughout the body do not readily respond to the insulin circulating in the blood. For this reason, the amount of insulin remains high in the blood (hyperinsulinemia). High levels of insulin can contribute to lack of ovulation, high androgen levels, infertility, and early pregnancy loss.
Polycystic ovaries are two to five times larger than normal ovaries, and they have a white, thick, tough outer covering. Women are usually diagnosed when in their 20s or 30s.
Many women with polycystic ovary disease have irregular periodsWomen diagnosed with this disorder frequently have a mother or sister with similar symptoms commonly associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Symptoms
If you have polycystic ovary disease, you are likely to experience some of the following symptoms:
Abnormal, irregular, or scanty (very light or infrequent) menstrual periods
Absent periods , usually (but not always) after having one or more normal menstrual periods during puberty (secondary amenorrhea)
Weight gain, even obesity
Insulin resistance and diabetes
Infertility
Increased hair growth;
Virilization -- development of male sex characteristics in a female. This may include :
an increase in body hair,
facial hair,
a deepening of the voice,
male-pattern baldness,
and clitoral enlargement.
Decreased breast size
Aggravation of acne
A long responce..sorry.
cass0302
09-15-2007, 04:28 AM
No worries about the length, thanks for the reply :) just a few questions...
'Atrophic endometrium' measuring 2mm is normal then? I'm guessing it's so thin because I've been bleeding a lot and not the other way around (?)... so basically, the ultrasound showed that I have been bleeding a lot and that I have ovarian symptoms of PCOS?
The PCOS was confirmed last year, and I've read up on all the symptoms and complications and things, I was just uncertain if this was contributing to the abnormal bleeding pattern.
I also read somewhere that the endometrium is often 'atrophic' post-menopause - why should it be so for me?
It doesn't seem right to me that I would bleed pink/brown for so long. Would the endometrium normally be so thin after a regular period? And any ideas on what could be causing the extra bleeding?
Thanks again for the help :)
'Atrophic endometrium' measuring 2mm is normal then? I'm guessing it's so thin because I've been bleeding a lot and not the other way around (?)... so basically, the ultrasound showed that I have been bleeding a lot and that I have ovarian symptoms of PCOS?
The PCOS was confirmed last year, and I've read up on all the symptoms and complications and things, I was just uncertain if this was contributing to the abnormal bleeding pattern.
I also read somewhere that the endometrium is often 'atrophic' post-menopause - why should it be so for me?
It doesn't seem right to me that I would bleed pink/brown for so long. Would the endometrium normally be so thin after a regular period? And any ideas on what could be causing the extra bleeding?
Thanks again for the help :)