Heavy menstrual bleeding (which may include clots of blood) or bleeding happening outside the normal cyclic menstruation is referred to as abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). AUB is a common gynecological problem, but its causes can be tricky to diagnose. The most likely cause of AUB for any woman depends on whether she is premenopausal, perimenopausal (near menopause), or postmenopausal.

Some causes of AUB include hormonal imbalances, pregnancy, the use of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills or Depo-Provera, for instance), fibroids, endometrial polyps, infection, and, more rarely, … More