title: Abnormal vaginal bleeding in the nonpregnant patient.
abstract: Vaginal bleeding is a common complaint in most emergency departments. Abnormal vaginal bleeding causes many patients a great deal of stress and inconvenience. Although treatment of most cases is straightforward, vaginal bleeding can herald serious occult disease including cancer, coagulopathy, and systemic illness. Vaginal bleeding can also be the initial complaint in patients suffering sexual abuse or trauma. From an emergency medicine perspective, vaginal bleeding should be approached in terms of whether the patient is stable or not. Subsequent evaluation should exclude or treat problems that might cause the patient's condition to deteriorate. The emergency physician is able to provide initial therapy for most causes of vaginal bleeding, and in most cases the patient must be referred to a gynecologist for further evaluation and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Texas A&M College of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, TX 76508, USA. rvdgolden@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Richard V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCuskey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D017698:Postmenopause; D011391:Prolapse; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012742:Sex Offenses; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy