Heavy Periods

What is menorrhagia?

Menorrhagia describes menstrual periods that are abnormally heavy or include prolonged bleeding. While you might have heavy bleeding at times during your cycle, menorrhagia is ongoing and typically lasts more than seven days.

Other symptoms of heavy periods include:

• Passing blood clots the size of a quarter or larger
• Experiencing fatigue or shortness of breath due to anemia
• Having to use multiple forms of sanitary protection at one time
• Soaking through a tampon or pad every hour for several hours in a row
• Not being able to sleep through the night without changing your pad or tampon

You might also have heavy menstrual bleeding if you find yourself restricting your activities because of your period.

What causes heavy periods?

Sometimes there isn’t a cause for heavy periods, but they can be the result of underlying conditions, including:

• Hormone imbalance
• Dysfunctional ovaries
• Uterine fibroids or polyps
• Pregnancy complications
• Uterine or cervical cancer
• Genetic bleeding disorders

Some birth controls like a non-hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) can also cause heavy periods in addition to medications like hormones, anticoagulants, and anti-inflammatories.

When left untreated, heavy periods can cause severe pain and anemia due to blood loss. If you have anemia, you have fewer red blood cells, and your blood carries less oxygen throughout your body.

How are heavy periods diagnosed and treated?

During your appointment at Gallatin Women’s Center, your provider discusses your menstrual cycles and medical history. They also perform a pelvic examination and might recommend additional tests, such as:

• Pap test to look for abnormal cervical cells
• Endometrial biopsy to evaluate your uterine tissue
• Blood tests for anemia, thyroid, or blood-clotting conditions
• 3D/4D or 2D ultrasound imaging to examine your pelvis, uterus, and ovaries

Based on the results, your provider might suggest several forms of treatment. This might include therapies like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oral contraceptives or progesterone, or hormonal IUDs.

If your heavy bleeding doesn’t respond to conservative treatments, your provider might recommend surgical methods like endometrial ablation. Endometrial ablation is used to destroy the endometrial lining and can effectively treat heavy periods. Gallatin Women’s Center offers both Minerva® and NovaSure® endometrial ablation techniques on-site.

To put an end to your heavy periods or prolonged bleeding, call Gallatin Women’s Center or schedule an appointment online today.