Abnormal uterine bleeding in adolescents

Abstract

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common diagnosis in the adolescent female population. In recent years, changes have been made to standardize nomenclature, evaluation and management of AUB in adolescents. The terms "abnormal uterine bleeding" and "heavy menstrual bleeding" have replaced terms including "dysfunctional uterine bleeding," "menorrhagia," "metrorrhagia", and "menometrorrhagia." Due to a high prevalence of these diagnoses in this population and resulting effects on quality of life, clinicians should understand and practice current evidence-based care, yet variability continues to exist. Evaluation should be focused on common etiologies of AUB in adolescents, namely non-structural causes, rather than those etiologies more common in adult females. The aim of this article is to review the existing definition, etiologies, pathophysiology, evaluation and management of AUB in adolescent females, with an emphasis on current universally accepted nomenclature and guidelines for use in clinical care.