Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common gynecological symptom experienced by approximately one-third of women at some point in their lives. There are various terminologies used to describe the symptoms of AUB, which can lead to inconsistency in interpretation. To address this, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Menstrual Disorders Working Group established standardized terminology and definitions for different types of AUB in 2007. AUB can have both structural and nonstructural causes, and it is possible for more than one cause to coexist in a single patient. To categorize and evaluate the causes of AUB consistently, FIGO defined a classification system in 2011 known as the AUB system 2. This system is referred to by the acronym PALM-COEIN. “PALM” stands for the structural causes: Polyp (P), Adenomyosis (A), Leiomyoma (L), and Malignancy and hyperplasia (M). “COEIN” represents the nonstructural causes: Coagulopathy (C), Ovulatory dysfunction (O), Endometrial causes (E), Iatrogenic factors (I), and causes that are Not yet classified (N). In this article, we review the standardized definitions and terminologies used to describe the symptoms of AUB and discuss the role of imaging and approach in identifying and classifying its causes.
Institution: Kovai Medical Center and Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7124458478