Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding - Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

What was the date of your last menstrual period?
- When was your previous period? Was it normal?
- Do you have regular cycles, such as a period every 25 to 35 days?
- If you have been through menopause, how long ago was your last menstrual period?
How severe (heavy) is your usual menstrual flow? What is the average length of each period, and how many pads or tampons do you use per day during your period? Do you pass many clots and how big are they? Do you change pads or tampons during the night? Keep track of your menstrual flow on a calendar, and take your calendar to show your doctor.
Are you sexually active?
Do you engage in high-risk sexual behaviors?
Are you currently using any type of hormonal birth control method?
Have you missed any birth control pills or failed to have your Depo-Provera injection according to schedule?
Have you done a home pregnancy test? If so, when did you do the test and what was the result?
Have you been under increased physical or emotional stress?
Have you recently changed your diet or exercise habits?
Have you recently gained or lost weight?
What prescription or nonprescription medicines are you taking, if any?
Do you have any other symptoms, such as lower abdominal pain?
Have you had other similar episodes and, if so:
- What evaluation was done?
- What was the diagnosis?
- What was the treatment?
- What were the results?
Do you have any health risks?

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: July 11, 2007

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding Topics

Bladder Control Problems?
Have a Life Less Interrupted

Important Safety Information | Prescribing Information

ENABLEX is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat the following symptoms due to a condition called overactive bladder:

· having a strong need to go to the bathroom right away (also called "urgency")
· leaks or wetting accidents (also called "urinary incontinence")
· having to go to the bathroom too often (also called "urinary frequency")

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

You should not take once-daily ENABLEX if you have certain types of stomach problems, glaucoma, or have trouble emptying your bladder. Side effects of ENBLEX include blurred vision, and more commonly dry mouth, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Use caution when doing certain activities until you know how ENBALEX affects you.

As You Journey through Menopause, Vivelle-Dot Is By Your Side

VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.

INDICATION

Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).

Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).

Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.

The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.

You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.

Prescribing Information