What condition is characterized by extremely heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding due to hormonal imbalance?

• A. Menorrhagia
• B. Premenstrual syndrome
• C. AUB - Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
• D. Oligomenorrhea

Answer: (C)

The condition characterized by extremely heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding due to hormonal imbalance is accurately represented by the term menorrhagia. Menorrhagia specifically refers to excessively heavy blood flow during menstruation, which may manifest as soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours.

While abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) can encompass a range of bleeding irregularities, it is a broader category that includes any bleeding that is not normal in frequency or duration, and can result from various causes including hormonal imbalances, structural abnormalities, or systemic conditions. However, menorrhagia specifically describes the volume and duration of menstrual bleeding, making it the most precise term for the specific symptoms described in this question.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) involves a range of emotional and physical symptoms that occur before menstruation but does not primarily focus on the characteristics of menstrual flow. Oligomenorrhea refers to infrequent menstrual periods and is the opposite of the heavy bleeding described. Therefore, menorrhagia is the condition that directly aligns with the criteria of heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding due to hormonal imbalance.