Chronic (prolonged) or heavy periods can lead to complications such as iron-deficiency anemia.
Fortunately, heavy periods can be treated with medication, contraceptives, and surgery.
This article discusses the symptoms and causes of heavy menstrual bleeding.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
It defines normal and heavy periods.
It also explains when you should talk to yourgynecologistand when emergency medical care may be required.
Signs You’re Losing Too Much Blood During Period
A typical period lasts four or five days.
During that time, an individual sheds 2 to 3 tablespoons of blood.
Those with heavy menstrual bleeding can lose twice as much blood each month.
What Causes Heavy Menstrual Bleeding?
Hormone changes or blood clotting disorders can cause heavy menstrual bleeding too.
But the list does not stop there.
That’s why it’s important to see a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis and evaluation.
This can lead to thickening of the endometrium (uterine lining) and heavy periods.
Oral contraceptives can usually regulate your bleeding during adolescence, and hormone therapy can help during menopause.
During menopause, fibroids typically shrink without treatment.
They can develop before and after menopause.
The cause of endometrial polyps is unclear, though research suggests a link betweenhormone therapyand obesity.
Treatment of small polyps is unnecessary unless it contributes to symptoms or you’re at risk of uterine cancer.
Large polyps are routinely removed and examined as a precaution.
Hormonal birth control methods can help control the condition, and the definitive treatment for adenomyosis is a hysterectomy.
In PID, one or more reproductive organs can be infectedincluding the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or cervix.
The recommended treatment for PID is antibiotic therapy.
While the cause of endometrial cancer is unknown, the most common age for diagnosis is the mid-60s.
Treatment for endometrial cancer is usually a hysterectomy, possibly followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments.
Early diagnosis is key to the effective treatment of cancer.
The most common are:
Certain Medications
Certain medications may cause heavier menstrual bleeding.
Before your appointment, jot down your period pattern in the last few months.
For instance, how many days did you bleed each month?
How many pads or tampons do you go through on the days of your heaviest menstrual flow?
They may also do an endometrial biopsy to sample your uterine tissue for microscopic examination.
Summary
Heavy menstrual bleeding is also called menorrhagia.
Certain medications may also cause you to bleed more heavily than usual.
If you experience heavy menstrual bleeding, it is important to see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
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De La Cruz MS, Buchanan EM.Uterine fibroids: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician.
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American Cancer Society.Treatment options for cervical cancer, by stage.
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