Abnormal uterine bleeding in the perimenopause.

Abnormal uterine bleeding is probably one of the most common gynecologic complaints in the perimenopause. It is a significant cause of hysterectomy, which is the second most common surgical procedure performed on women in the United States, and thus is a major health issue. Management consists of a stepwise evaluation of all possible organic causes of uterine bleeding. Advancements in technology have allowed considerable improvements in the resolution of many diagnostic tools. Direct visualization of the uterine cavity is now an invaluable adjunct to blind endometrial sampling. Consequently, therapy can be tailored more appropriately and efficiently, either by newly developed medical strategies or through selective, minimally invasive surgery. In light of these perspectives, some of the recent diagnostic and therapeutic trends in the management of abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal women are presented.