Heavy Period Bleeding (Menorrhagia) - Symptoms , Causes, and Treatment

Heavy menstrual bleeding, a condition medically known as menorrhagia, is associated with severe bleeding during menstruation. Heavy bleeding leads to discomfort, anemia, giddiness, and is quantified by the number of pads used during the periods.

Symptoms of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Menstrual bleeding is considered to be heavy if:

• You have to change the pad every one or two hours on at least a single day of your period.
• Your periods last longer than a week.
• There is blood loss of more than 80 ml each cycle.
• You pass clots each month.
• Invariably, there is overflow on to clothes and bed linen.
• Your periods are so heavy it leads to iron-deficiency anemia.

Causes of Heavy Bleeding During Periods

Heavy bleeding is triggered by multiple causes. Once the doctor rules out pregnancy or its complications, he/ she will consider other causes such as:

1. Fibroid (non-cancerous or cancerous tumor in the uterus).
2. Hormonal imbalance.
3. Polyps (small growths on the wall of the cervix).
4. Endometriosis (abnormal growth of a layer of tissue on the outside of the uterus).
5. Copper IUD (intrauterine device).
6. Bleeding disorders.
7. Pelvic inflammatory disease.
8. Thyroid dysfunction.
9. Rarely, cancer of the uterus, ovaries, or cervix.

How to Manage Them at Home

There are certain remedies you can try before you give medicines a shot:

• Herbal teas, meaning, infusions made of natural ingredients like cinnamon, cumin or chamomile are thought to provide soothing relief.

• Placing an ice pack on your abdomen every few hours may reduce your discomfort to a certain extent.

• It is that time of the month when the hormones wreak havoc and cause bloating and indigestion. So, it is a good idea to eat light, go green, and include lots of healthy stuff to ensure you are taking a well-balanced diet.

• Drink plenty of water. It would flush out the toxins and excess hormones and help you feel refreshed.

• Iron supplements are known to help improve the symptoms and make you feel more energetic.

• And, most importantly, remember to use the right female hygiene product that would suit your need. For example, for women with heavy bleeding, overnight pads are a good choice.

Treatment of the Condition

A doctor may adopt various approaches to treat excessive bleeding depending upon the diagnosis, age, and adaptability of the patient:

1. NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen and Diclofenac are taken by many women and are found to reduce the pain as well as the flow.

2. Oral contraceptive pills are a good option for sexually active women who are not planning on getting pregnant. In addition to prevent bleeding, they also provide the necessary protection, if taken on schedule.

3. Progesterone therapy can stabilize uterine lining, normalize hormonal imbalance, and thus stops excessive bleeding.

4. Hormonal IUDs unlike the copper IUDs release small amounts of hormones and often make periods lighter.

5. Iron supplements compensate for the loss of blood.

6. Surgical treatments should be considered after other non-invasive methods have been tried. They include endometrial ablation and hysterectomy.

If you are suffering from such a condition, do not hesitate to seek help right away. They can be effectively managed medically.

For more information consult a menstrual disorders specialist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/obstetrician-and-gynaecologist/menstrual-disorders

ADVERTISEMENT