Dysfunctional uterine bleeding occurs most often before age 20 and after age 40.

• Teen years. Some teens have times of irregular vaginal bleeding. This usually gets better over time as hormone levels even out and the menstrual cycle becomes more regular. If you need treatment, your doctor may give you hormones to help regulate your menstrual cycle. He or she may also prescribe medicine to reduce bleeding.
• Reproductive years. Some women in their 20s and 30s have dysfunctional uterine bleeding. This may be related to changing hormone levels that affect ovulation. However, women with dysfunctional uterine bleeding in this age group may also have normal hormone levels. If your doctor rules out serious causes of vaginal bleeding, he or she may diagnose you with dysfunctional uterine bleeding without knowing why it is happening. Your treatment depends on whether you are planning to have children.
• After age 40: perimenopausal and menopausal years. After age 40, women tend to have changing hormone levels. During this time before your period stops (perimenopausal years), you may not always ovulate. This can lead to irregular vaginal bleeding. You can expect this bleeding to go away on its own when menopause is complete. Your treatment options depend on your childbearing plans and how much your symptoms are impacting your daily life. Your doctor may recommend a wait-and-see approach, hormones, or a hysterectomy.

No matter what your age, see your health professional if you have irregular vaginal bleeding.