Pregnancy and obesity can contribute to fibroid development, leading to abnormal uterine bleeding. Fibroids are a major cause of abnormal uterine bleeding in women over the age of 30. One-third of women over the age of 30 have fibroids. Doctors do not know why some women develop fibroids, but these benign tumors appear to be fed by estrogen. Fibroids typically grow during pregnancy, when estrogen levels are high, and shrink after menopause when estrogen levels are low. Obesity also contributes to fibroid development, perhaps because fat cells produce estrogen.

Symptoms and Signs of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in TCM:
(1) Syndrome of kidney asthenia and loss of consolidation
Main symptoms: Occurrence of menstrual blood not at the due time, or profuse and fulminant blood flow, dripping bleeding, dark red or bright red color menses,accompanied by dizziness, tirmitus, aching sensation and weakness in the loins, grayish complexion, deep and thin or fast pulse.

(2) Syndrome of asthenia spleen failing to command blood
Main symptoms: Occurrence of menstrual blood not at the due time, or profuse and fulminant blood flow, or dripping bleeding with thin texture menses, bright-whitish complexion or sallow complexion, edema of limbs, lassitude, cold limbs, lack of qi and no desire to speak, anorexia and loose stool, empty prolapsing sensation in the lower abdomen, light and bulgy tongue or tooth-printed tongue with thin and white fur, thin and weak pulse.

(3) Syndorme of abnormal flow of blood due to heat
Main symptoms: Occurrence of menstrual blood not at the due time, or profuse and fulminant blood flow,dripping bleeding, bright-red or deep red color and thintexture menses, accompanied by dysphoria, dry mouth,or fever, yellowish urine, constipation, red tongue with yellow fur, slippery pulse or thin and rapid pulse.

(4) Syndrome of retention of blood stasis
Main symptoms: Occurrence of menstrual blood not at the due time, or profuse and fulminant blood flow,dripping bleeding, or occasional bleeding, purplish red or blackish red color menses, or mingled with blood clot, unpressable lower abdominal pain, purplish tongue or with ecchymosis and unsmooth or taut pulse.