Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Q Is it realistically possible to combine Korean medicine treatment with keeping my job?

A. Yes. Most of the treatment involves taking herbal medicine at home and visiting the clinic once or twice a week, so it can be combined with working life. There are no special activity restrictions during treatment.

Q I've been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, and I also get abnormal bleeding. Can Korean medicine treat both?

A. Polycystic ovary syndrome has ovulatory dysfunction as its main cause, so abnormal bleeding tends to occur alongside it. Korean medicine treatment that simultaneously restores hormonal balance and ovulatory function can address both together.

Q I have adenomyosis along with abnormal bleeding. Can Korean medicine treatment help in a case like this too?

A. Adenomyosis occurs when endometrial tissue grows into the muscle layer, causing severe menstrual pain, heavy bleeding, and abnormal bleeding. Korean medicine treatment that disperses blood stasis and improves uterine circulation can help relieve both the bleeding and the pain.

Q Is there anything I should be careful about in daily life when I have abnormal bleeding?

A. Avoid activities that rapidly deplete your energy, such as intense exercise, saunas, and long-distance travel, and keep your abdomen warm. Going to bed before 11 p.m. and eating warm foods help with recovery.

Q Are there foods that are good to eat, and foods to avoid, during abnormal bleeding?

A. Blood-nourishing foods such as black sesame, lotus root, spinach, jujube, and walnuts are helpful. As during menstruation, it is best to avoid cold foods, alcohol, and spicy foods.

Q When abnormal bleeding occurs, in what cases should I go straight to the emergency room?

A. If you have heavy bleeding with dizziness or fainting, or if bleeding suddenly worsens along with abdominal pain, go to the emergency room immediately. Bleeding after menopause also requires immediate gynecologic examination to rule out endometrial cancer.

Q I have a uterine problem, and I'm worried that herbal medicine might actually stimulate more bleeding.

A. Because prescriptions are given after examining whether you have a uterine condition and assessing your bleeding state, herbal medicine generally does not stimulate bleeding. Blood-invigorating ingredients are applied only when blood stasis is present, and during active bleeding, hemostasis-focused prescriptions are used.

Q I'm currently taking hormone medication prescribed by my OB-GYN. Can I take herbal medicine together with it?

A. You do not need to stop the hormone medication you are taking right away. You can take them together with a 1-2 hour gap between them, and as treatment progresses we adjust toward gradually reducing the hormone medication.

Q My abnormal bleeding has been recurring for several months. How long does it take to improve with Korean medicine treatment?

A. If the cause is functional (hormonal imbalance or ovulatory dysfunction), the frequency and amount of bleeding usually decrease noticeably with about 2-3 months of consistent treatment. If a structural cause is also present, combining treatment with OB-GYN care is recommended.

Q It keeps getting better and then worse again. Can I maintain improvement without recurrence?

A. Abnormal bleeding tends to recur because it responds sensitively to stress, sleep, and weight changes. By building up enough basic qi and blood strength in the uterus and combining this with lifestyle management, you can lengthen the interval between recurrences and reduce their severity.

Q I'm not on my period, but I'm seeing blood on my underwear. What exactly is abnormal bleeding?

A. Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is bleeding from the uterus that occurs independently of your menstrual cycle. It has many possible causes, such as polyps, uterine fibroids, ovulation disorders, and hormonal imbalance, so it is essential to identify the underlying cause.

Q When I'm under a lot of stress, I get bleeding even when it's not my period. Why does this happen?

A. Stress disrupts the hormonal axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary), causing ovulatory dysfunction. As a result, the uterine lining sheds irregularly and bleeding occurs. This is one of the common causes of functional abnormal bleeding.

Q I often enjoy cold foods. Do my eating habits affect abnormal bleeding?

A. Cold foods can impair blood circulation to the uterus and create blood stasis, which may worsen abnormal bleeding. Switching to mainly warm foods can help restore the uterine environment.

Q My sleep is irregular and I work a lot of late nights. Could this be related to abnormal bleeding?

A. Night-shift work and lack of sleep disrupt the rhythms of melatonin and prolactin, destabilizing the menstrual cycle and ovulation, and can be a cause of abnormal bleeding.

Q I live near Dongincheon. How often do I need to visit the clinic for abnormal bleeding treatment?

A. Typically once or twice a week in the first month, then adjusted to once a week or every other week once symptoms stabilize. Because you also take herbal medicine daily, you can be treated while maintaining your daily routine.

Q What should I prepare for my first visit to Dongjedang Korean Medicine Clinic in Dong-gu, Incheon?

A. It helps to make a note of when and in what situations the abnormal bleeding occurs, along with the bleeding pattern (color, amount, duration). If you have recent ultrasound or OB-GYN test results, please bring them as well.

Q What are the stages of treating abnormal bleeding with Korean medicine? Do I just take herbal medicine from the start?

A. It usually proceeds in three stages: stopping bleeding and stabilizing qi and blood, restoring uterine circulation (warming the uterus and invigorating blood), and reinforcing qi and blood (tonifying yang). Acupuncture and herbal medicine are combined, and the visit schedule is adjusted according to progress.

Q Can Korean medicine really stop abnormal bleeding? I'm wondering whether it can be effective without hormone medication.

A. Korean medicine treatment does not forcibly stop the bleeding itself; instead, it strengthens the qi and blood of the Chong and Ren meridians so the uterus can recover its own ability to control blood. It works differently from hormone medication, but for functional causes you can reasonably expect good results.