Study guide for medical terminology & coding · Bleeding between periods? Read the patient guide
Metrorrhagia.com

Lesson 3

Metrorrhagia vs menorrhagia vs menometrorrhagia

Timing versus amount: the comparison table every exam asks about.

By the Metrorrhagia.com editorial teamUpdated Medical review pending
Illustration of a wall calendar with a few days marked by dots, next to a phone showing a cycle ring and a cup of tea.

Educational content for students. Not medical or coding advice. Having symptoms? See the patient guide.

On this page
  1. The comparison table
  2. Other cycle terms to know
  3. What counts as "normal" anyway?
  4. Sources

Three terms, one word part apart. The difference is timing (during periods vs between them) and amount.

Illustrative bleeding patterns over three cycles: a typical cycle, menorrhagia with heavier or longer periods on time, metrorrhagia with extra bleeding between periods, and menometrorrhagia with heavy, irregular bleeding.
Timing versus amount: the core difference between the three terms. Illustrative, not to scale.

The comparison table

MenorrhagiaMetrorrhagiaMenometrorrhagia
Word partsmen/o + -rrhagiametr/o + -rrhagiamen/o + metr/o + -rrhagia
WhenDuring the periodBetween periods, at irregular timesDuring and between periods
AmountHeavy and/or prolongedOften light to moderate, can varyHeavy and/or prolonged
Cycle patternRegularIrregularIrregular
Modern FIGO termHeavy menstrual bleeding (HMB)Intermenstrual bleeding (IMB) / irregular bleedingHMB with irregular bleeding
ICD-10-CMN92.0 (menorrhagia NOS)N92.1N92.1

FIGO terminology: FIGO 2018. ICD-10-CM inclusion terms: N92. Cleveland Clinic describes menorrhagia as heavy bleeding during your period and menometrorrhagia as irregular or unpredictable bleeding that can occur at any time [Cleveland Clinic].

Memory trick

Menorrhagia = monthly flow too heavy. Metrorrhagia = the uterus bleeds when it shouldn't. Both together = menometrorrhagia.

Other cycle terms to know

TermMeaningICD-10-CM pointer
PolymenorrheaAbnormally frequent periodsN92.0 (inclusion term)
OligomenorrheaInfrequent periodsN91.3–N91.5 range
AmenorrheaAbsence of periodsN91.0–N91.2
Ovulation bleedingRegular, predictable mid-cycle bleedingN92.3
Postcoital bleedingBleeding after sexN93.0
Postmenopausal bleedingBleeding after menopauseN95.0

See the ICD-10 page for the full list and the Excludes1 notes.

Cycle wheel of an example 28-day menstrual cycle: period on days 1 to 5, follicular phase, ovulation around mid-cycle and luteal phase, with a marker on day 19 showing bleeding between periods.
An example cycle. Bleeding outside the expected period is intermenstrual bleeding, the modern term for metrorrhagia. FIGO's normal frequency range is 24 to 38 days.

What counts as "normal" anyway?

Definitions vary by source. ACOG's patient FAQ uses a cycle of 21–35 days and a period of up to 7 days [ACOG]. FIGO's 2018 system defines normal frequency as 24–38 days and normal duration as up to 8 days [FIGO 2018], and ACOG's perimenopause FAQ uses the same 24–38 days and up to 8 days [ACOG]. On an exam, use the figures your course textbook gives.

Sources

  1. The two FIGO systems for normal and abnormal uterine bleeding symptoms and classification of causes of AUB in the reproductive years: 2018 revisions Munro MG et al., Int J Gynecol Obstet 2018
  2. ICD-10-CM N92 Excessive, frequent and irregular menstruation (N92.0–N92.6) ICD10Data.com, FY2027 code set
  3. Menometrorrhagia (Abnormal Uterine Bleeding) Cleveland Clinic Health Library, Nov 2024
  4. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (FAQ095) American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, reviewed Aug 2025
  5. Perimenopausal Bleeding and Bleeding After Menopause American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

We link to primary medical sources so you can check our work. See the editorial policy and the full reference list.