Abnormal periods, pack your bags
Next stop, period relief
Understand abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), the symptoms, and
uterine-sparing treatment options. A better life is possible.
Stop planning your life around your period
More than 80% of women with AUB say that their heavy period is disruptive to their mental, emotional and physical well-being.1
If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, it could be abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), which is often caused by fibroids, polyps, or hormonal imbalances.
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Prolonged periods (bleeding longer than a week)
- More frequent or irregular periods than usual
Don’t let your period hold you back. Together with your doctor, find symptom relief that fits your lifestyle.
Better starts here.
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) Symptoms
Changing your period product every hour
Bleeding longer than 7 days
Bleeding in between periods
Passing clots the size of a quarter
Extreme pain or discomfort
Bleeding after intercourse
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding 101
What is AUB?
AUB, also known as menometrorrhagia, generally describes irregularities in period frequency, regularity, duration and volume.
Volume
The amount of blood you lose during a period.
Duration
How long your bleeding lasts.
Frequency
How often your periods occur.
Regularity
The consistency of your cycle length.
Normal vs. heavy periods
The total amount of blood lost during one period is usually around one-and-a-half shot glasses (60 mL), for 3-7 days3.
If your periods that last longer than 7 days, you lose more than two shot glasses (80 mL) of blood each period3, or you are using more sanitary products than indicated, you could be experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding. This is a common symptom of abnormal uterine bleeding.
| Heavy menstrual bleeding | Product usage |
3+ menstrual cups
6+ overnight pads
16+ regular tampons
7+ super tampons
The measurements are based on fully filled 25 mL menstrual cups and fully saturated pads and tampons.
Unpack your symptoms
Get to know your body. Take our quiz to better understand what your symptoms might be trying to tell you.
Treatment Options
Better is possible™
Together with your doctor we can help make a better life your reality.
Historically, watchful waiting, medication and hysterectomies were the only solution for treating abnormal uterine bleeding. Now you have options. Keep your uterus and find symptom relief with minimally-invasive, non-hormonal procedures that require minimal recovery time. Ask your doctor if these treatments could be right for you.
NovaSure®
endometrial ablation
Targeted heat is used to treat the endometrial lining from inside the uterus, reducing or eliminating your period entirely.4
Sonata®
fibroid ablation
Targeted heat is used to treat fibroids from inside the uterus without any incisions, reducing fibroid symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding.5
Acessa®
fibroid ablation
Targeted heat is used to treat fibroids by accessing the uterus through the abdomen, reducing fibroid symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding.6
Abnormal uterine bleeding from fibroids?
Understand what’s causing your abnormal periods.
Uterine fibroids, which are benign growths in the uterus, could be contributing to your abnormal uterine bleeding. Fibroid symptoms and severity vary depending on their size and location. Don’t let fibroids hold you back.
You have options
If you’re feeling unsure about what to do next or need help finding a doctor, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.
Find relief
Locate a physician who offers minimally invasive procedures near you
Know your options
Explore procedures that treat your symptoms and fit your lifestyle
Assess your period
Find out if your period is actually ‘normal’
Understand your body
Get familiar with your uterus, how it works, and why uterine health is important
Frequently Asked Questions
What is abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB)?
AUB, also known as menometrorrhagia, generally describes irregularities in period frequency, regularity, duration and volume. It refers to any deviation from normal menstrual bleeding patterns, including heavy, light, irregular, prolonged, or unpredictable bleeding.
What are the common symptoms of AUB?
AUB (menomentorrhagia) can cause the following symptoms.12
- Periods lasting longer than 7 days and/or heavy bleeding when on your period
- More frequent periods and/or bleeding in between periods
- Unpredictable or inconsistent periods
- Bleeding or spotting in between periods
- Missing your period
- Bleeding after you have started menopause
- Feelings of fatigue. Fatigue could be a sign of anemia which is caused by blood loss.
What causes AUB?
AUB has many possible causes but the most common are hormonal imbalances; non-cancerous growths in your uterus to include polyps, fibroids, adenomyosis, and endometriosis; some cancers and infections12. Only a healthcare provider can diagnose the cause of your abnormal bleeding.
How will my healthcare provider test me for AUB?
Your healthcare provider will likely start with a pelvic exam and some lab tests. They may order a blood test called a “complete blood count” (CBC), which can detect conditions like anemia or infection.13 Your healthcare provider may also test you for pregnancy and STIs to rule those out as causes.
Can AUB be treated?
Yes, AUB can be managed through medication or surgery. If your healthcare provider determines you have AUB, they may recommend medication like birth control, progestin (either via shot or IUD), or GnRH agonists and antagonists.12 They may also advise you take ibuprofin (advil or motrin) and an iron supplement if she determines that you are anemic.12 Your healthcare provider may also suggest a surgical solution based on your unique situation. Surgeries could include:
- endometrial ablation
- fibroid ablation
- hysteroscopy
- myomectomy
- hysterectomy
Will my AUB go away on its own?
Depending on the cause of your AUB, it may resolve on its own. Your period may be more irregular when it first begins (ages 9 – 14) and during perimenopause, which typically begins in your mid-forties.13,14
Is AUB the same as heavy menstrual bleeding?
No, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is not the same as heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), though heavy bleeding can be a symptom of AUB. AUB is a broader term referring to any deviation from normal menstrual bleeding patterns, including heavy, irregular, prolonged, or light bleeding.
What is the difference between AUB and heavy menstrual bleeding?
AUB (momentrorrhagia) generally describes irregularities in period frequency, regularity, duration and volume. It refers to any deviation from normal menstrual bleeding patterns, including heavy, light, irregular, prolonged, or unpredictable bleeding.
Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) is specifically characterized by excessive and prolonged bleeding during a menstrual period.
What are the common symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding?
Symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding may include:12,15
- Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several hours in a row.
- Needing double sanitary protection to control your menstrual flow.
- Getting up at night to change sanitary pads or tampons.
- Bleeding for more than a week.
- Passing blood clots larger than a quarter.
- Limiting daily activities due to heavy menstrual flow.
- Feeling tired, fatigued or short of breath as the result of blood loss.
What if my period is extremely heavy some months and not others?
Unpredictable cycles that vary in flow from month to month are common, especially as a woman approaches her menopausal years.16,17 Heavy bleeding should still be discussed with your doctor, even if it doesn’t occur every month.
Is hysterectomy the only way to treat my heavy periods?
Advances in medicine have led to a number of treatment options for heavy bleeding, depending on the cause. Your doctor may offer non-surgical methods like birth control pills or an IUD, or a minimally-invasive procedure like endometrial ablation. Other minimally invasive procedures, like hysteroscopic tissue removal or fibroid ablation, may be offered if your doctor determines that fibroids or polyps are the cause of your heavy bleeding.
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Women are often told pain and heavy bleeding are a normal part of their cycle. We know that’s not the case. Advocating for your health starts with knowing your body. We’re here to help you to take your first steps toward better.
Get to #KnowYourU (uterus) and find care that’s best for you!
* Women with AUB surveyed report missing 1.5 days of work/school every cycle, which is about 18 days a year on average
** MyoSure Manual is not indicated for the treatment of fibroids
References
- Hologic, Inc. Data on File; AUB Patient Journey Research,conducted January 2017. Survey of 1,003 women who self-identified as currently or recently experiencing heavy bleeding with need to change feminine hygiene. ↩︎
- ACOG. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/heavy-menstrual-bleeding. Accessed July 2025. ↩︎
- Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. Overview: Heavy periods. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279294. Accessed July 2025. ↩︎
- NovaSure IFU. ↩︎
- Sonata IFU. ↩︎
- Acessa IFU. ↩︎
- Hologic data on file, VER-04869. ↩︎
- Hologic data on file, VER-13652. ↩︎
- Hologic data on file, VER-11742. ↩︎
- Hologic data on file, VER-11786. ↩︎
- Hologic data on file, VER-11576 ↩︎
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/menometrorrhagia-abnormal-uterine-bleeding. Accessed July 2025. ↩︎
- ACOG. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/abnormal-uterine-bleeding. Accessed July 2025. ↩︎
- Cleveland Clinic. Perimenopause: Age, stages, signs, symptoms & treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21608-perimenopause. Accessed July 2025. ↩︎
- Mayo Clinic. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding) – Symptoms and Causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829.
Accessed July 2025. ↩︎ - Mayo Clinic. Menstrual cycle: What’s normal, what’s not. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/menstrual-cycle/art-20047186. Accessed July 2025. ↩︎
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Frequently Asked Questions: Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause. https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Perimenopausal-Bleeding-and-Bleeding-After-Menopause. Accessed July 2025. ↩︎
Important Safety Information
The Acessa ProVu system is intended to identify and shrink symptomatic uterine fibroids. The Acessa ProVu system is used by trained physicians during laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia. Rare but serious risks of this procedure include, but are not limited to, infection, internal injury, blood loss and complications related to laparoscopic surgery and/or general anesthesia. This procedure is not recommended for women who are planning future pregnancy. This information is not medical advice. Please discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor to find out if the Acessa procedure may be right for you.
The MyoSure tissue removal system is intended to remove unwanted tissue from the uterus. During a MyoSure procedure, a trained gynecologist inserts the MyoSure device through your vagina and then removes the unwanted tissue from inside the uterus. Use of the MyoSure system is not appropriate for patients who are or may be pregnant, or have signs or symptoms of a pelvic infection, cervical cancer, or previously diagnosed uterine cancer. As with any surgical procedure, there are potential risks including but not limited to internal injury, excessive bleeding, and complications related to anesthesia. Temporary side effects may include cramping, bleeding, fever, and nausea. This information is not medical advice. Please discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor to find out if the MyoSure procedure may be right for you.
NovaSure endometrial ablation is for premenopausal women with heavy periods due to benign causes who are finished childbearing. Pregnancy following the NovaSure procedure can be dangerous. The NovaSure procedure is not for those who have or suspect uterine cancer; have an active genital, urinary or pelvic infection; or an IUD. NovaSure endometrial ablation is not a sterilization procedure. Rare but serious risks include, but are not limited to, thermal injury, perforation and infection. Temporary side effects may include cramping, nausea, vomiting, discharge and spotting. Inform patients to contact you if they experience a possible side effect related to use of this product. If you or someone you know has possibly experienced a side effect when using our product, please contact your physician.