Diagnosis of Menstrual Disorders

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You will also be asked about your periods. A physical exam will be done. A pelvic exam may also be done.

Heavy Bleeding (Menorrhagia)

Tests

These tests may be done to look for a cause of heavy bleeding:

Blood tests—to measure hormones and check for bleeding disorders
Ultrasound—to view pelvic organs
Hysteroscopy—A tube is passed to the uterus through the vagina to view the uterus
Endometrial biopsy—tissue is scraped from the uterus and looked at using a microscope

Lack of Periods (Amenorrhea)

Blood Tests

A blood test will be done to find out whether the woman is pregnant. The test can also look for:

Too much or too little thyroid hormone
Too much prolactin in the blood
Too much or too little luteinizing hormone
Too much or too little follicle stimulating hormone

Genetic tests may also be done to find the cause.

Images

An MRI scan may be done to check for pituitary tumor.

References

Abnormal uterine bleeding. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/approach-to/abnormal-uterine-bleeding. Updated October 10, 2019. Accessed November 14, 2019.

Amenorrhea. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/amenorrhea. Updated January 16, 2018. Accessed November 14, 2019.

Bleeding Disorders in Women. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/index.html. Updated April 25, 2018. Accessed November 14, 2019.

Klein DA, Poth MA. Amenorrhea: an approach to diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician. 2013 Jun 1;87(11):781-788.

Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Elliot M. Levine, MD, FACOG
Last Updated: 11/24/2020

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