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How do health care providers diagnose menstrual irregularities?
A health care provider diagnoses menstrual irregularities using a combination of the following:1,2,3,4,5
Medical history
Physical examination
Blood tests
Ultrasound examination
Endometrial biopsy—a small sample of the uterus's endometrial lining is taken to be examined under a microscope
Hysteroscopy—a diagnostic scope that allows a health care provider to examine the inside of the uterus, typically done as an outpatient procedure
Saline infusion sonohysterography—ultrasound imaging of the uterine cavity while it is filled with sterile saline solution
Transvaginal ultrasonography—ultrasound imaging of the pelvic organs, including the ovaries and uterus, using an ultrasound transducer that is inserted into the vagina
Citations
Sweet, M. G., Schmidt-Dalton, T. A., Weiss, P. M., & Madsen, K. P. (2012). Evaluation and management of abnormal uterine bleeding in premenopausal women. American Family Physician, 85, 35–43.
French, L. (2005). Dysmenorrhea. American Family Physician, 71, 285–291.
Master-Hunter, T., & Heiman, D. L. (2006). Amenorrhea: Evaluation and treatment. American Family Physician, 73, 1374–1382.
Apgar, B. S., Kaufman, A. H., George-Nwogu, U., & Kittendorf, A. (2007). Treatment of menorrhagia. American Family Physician, 75, 1813–1819.
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. (2008). Current evaluation of amenorrhea. Fertility and Sterility, 90, S219–S225.
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