Heavy menstruation

Heavy menstruation: a health problem that women should know about

Heavy menstrual blood is a condition in which there is excessive menstrual blood flow. It is considered an abnormal condition, and 1 in 3 women seek treatment for the cause of their heavy menstrual blood flow. This is because heavy menstrual blood affects daily life and can be a symptom or sign of various health problems.

Women who have heavy menstrual flow often have the following characteristics:

• Menstruation lasts for more than 7 days
• I had so much menstrual blood that I had to change my sanitary pad several times an hour for several hours straight.
• It is necessary to wear more than two sanitary pads at a time to absorb menstrual blood.
• You have to change your sanitary pads while you sleep at night.
• There is a blood clot coming out with menstrual blood. The blood clot is large.
• Feeling tired or short of breath
• Bleeding between periods or bleeding after menopause

What causes heavy menstruation?

Heavy menstruation can be caused by many things. Generally, women who experience this condition often have hormonal imbalances, ovarian dysfunction, uterine health problems, pregnancy complications, medication side effects, or other illnesses, such as:

• Hormonal Imbalance: Balanced levels of estrogen and progesterone help build the lining of the uterus. The lining of the uterus sheds and becomes menstrual blood if the egg is not fertilized. If the body’s hormones are not balanced, it will result in the production of too much lining of the uterus, which results in heavy menstrual blood. If the body does not ovulate normally, it will result in hormonal imbalance and the production of too thick lining of the uterus, resulting in heavy menstrual blood.
• There are many health problems with the uterus. Women who have heavy menstrual periods may experience the following health conditions:
  • Uterine fibroids Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow within the lining of the uterus or uterus. As a result, women with fibroids in these areas may have heavier or longer periods than normal.
  • Cancer: Certain types of cancer, such as uterine,cervical, or ovarian cancer, can cause heavier than normal menstrual blood. However, it is rare for women to experience heavier periods due to this cause.
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) This condition affects the functioning of the ovaries, causing irregular periods and heavy periods when your periods return to normal.
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the upper reproductive system, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. Symptoms include abdominal pain and bleeding after sexual intercourse or between periods.
  • Adenomyosis (endometrial tissue) is a condition in which the lining of the uterus grows outside the tissue of the uterus and attaches itself to the muscle of the uterus. This causes the patient to have heavy menstrual blood and cramps. Endometriosis tends to occur in middle-aged women who have had children.
  • Endometriosis is a condition in which small pieces of endometrial tissue grow outside the uterus, such as in the fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, or vagina. This can put you at risk for painful menstrual cramps.
  • Cervical or uterine polyps are benign growths that grow in the lining of the uterus or cervix.
• Pregnancy complications: Heavy vaginal bleeding during pregnancy may be due to miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. However, these conditions rarely cause heavy periods.
• Side effects of medications Certain medications can cause heavy periods, including anticoagulants, some chemotherapy drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, and birth control IUDs.
• Suffering from various diseases. People with certain diseases may experience heavy menstrual bleeding, such as hypothyroidism,blood clotting disorders, or liver and kidney diseases.

Heavy menstruation: How to detect the cause and treat it?

Women who experience heavy menstrual bleeding should see a doctor for examination to diagnose the cause of the symptoms and receive proper and safe treatment, which can be done as follows:

• To find out the cause of heavy menstrual bleeding, women with heavy menstrual bleeding will be tested to diagnose the cause of the condition. The following tests are required:
  • Blood test: The doctor will take a blood sample from the patient to test for health problems that may be causing heavy periods, such as anemia, thyroid problems, or blood clotting disorders.
  • During a pelvic exam,the doctor will take a sample of cells from the patient’s cervix for testing to check for infection, inflammation, or other changes that could be precancerous or cancerous.
  • Uterine Biopsy: A doctor removes a sample of tissue from the lining of your uterus to check for cancer or other cell abnormalities. The test is quick and you may feel some cramps, similar to menstrual cramps, as the doctor removes the sample. However, these symptoms go away after the sample is taken.
  • Ultrasound: This method uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the patient’s uterus, ovaries, and pelvis, which can be used to examine the structure or tumors within these organs.
  • Further examination: The doctor may recommend that the patient undergo other examinations in addition to the above examination results, as follows:
    • Sonohysterogram: The doctor will insert a tube through the woman’s vagina and cervix to inject fluid. An ultrasound is then performed to check for abnormalities in the woman’s uterine lining. The patient may feel mild to severe squeezing pain during the examination.
    • Hysteroscopy: A small camera is inserted into your vagina or cervix into your uterus to look for tumors, polyps, or other health problems that may be causing your bleeding. You may be given a sedative or local anesthesia before the test.
    • Dilation and Curettage (D&C)This procedure is used to examine and treat the cause of vaginal bleeding. The doctor will give the patient a sedative or local anesthesia and scrape the lining of the uterus to find the cause of heavy menstrual periods.
  • Treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding Heavy menstrual bleeding is a health problem that affects daily life. People who experience this condition can take care of their symptoms, which can be divided into self-care methods and medical treatment methods, as follows:
    • Self-care methods: Women who have heavy menstrual flow can take care of their symptoms by themselves as follows:
      • Apply a cold compress. Place an ice pack or cold compress on your abdomen for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day when your menstrual blood is heavy.
      • Take vitamins. You should take vitamin C supplements to help your body absorb iron better and strengthen your blood vessels.
      • Take iron. Some research has shown that people with low iron levels have heavier periods, while those who take iron supplements may experience less heavy periods. However, it is always best to consult your doctor before taking any medication or supplement to treat these conditions on your own.
    • Medical Treatment: Those who have heavy menstrual flow should see a doctor to receive proper treatment for the condition. Medical treatment includes medication and medical procedures, as follows:
      • Drug treatment: Most doctors recommend that patients take medication to treat heavy menstruation first before undergoing medical treatment. They will prescribe medication appropriate for the patient’s health problems, as follows:
        • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, and mefenamic. They work by reducing the levels of prostaglandins, which are hormone-like chemicals. Some studies have found that these drugs can reduce bleeding by about 25-35 percent.
        • Birth Control PillsThis pill can reduce menstrual bleeding by up to 60 percent because it works by preventing ovulation and does not thicken the lining of the uterus. In one study, mefenamic acid, naproxen, danazol, and birth control pills were found to be effective in reducing vaginal bleeding.
        • Progestins are often prescribed by doctors to treat heavy menstrual periods. Progestins work by reducing the effectiveness of estrogen in the body, which slows down the growth of the lining of the uterus. However, progestins can cause side effects in users, including weight gain, headaches, swelling, or depression.
        • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists: These medications are very effective in treating heavy menstrual periods. They are usually only used for short-term treatment (less than 6 months) because they are expensive, cause serious side effects, and can lead to osteoporosis if used for a long time. They are also used to shrink tumors, which will return to their original size if the medication is stopped.
        • Danazol is a prescription form of the hormone testosterone that blocks the action of estrogen in the body, causing a missed period of about 4-6 weeks. However, Danazol can cause side effects, including acne and breast reduction.
        • Desmopressin: People with bleeding disorders should use this drug to reduce abnormal bleeding. The drug releases proteins into the blood vessel walls to form blood clots and increase protein levels in the blood.
        • Anticoagulants: These drugs are used to reduce bleeding and also to stop the blood clot from breaking up. They should be used when bleeding occurs. Anticoagulants include tranexamic acid and aminocaproic acid.
        • IUDs help thin the lining of your uterus, which can lead to less bleeding and cramps because the IUD releases a progestin called levonorgestrel.
      • Medical treatment: People who are not successful with medication may need to undergo medical treatment as follows:
        • Hysterectomy This method can effectively treat heavy menstrual bleeding because the doctor will remove the entire uterus, resulting in no more menstruation. However, women who have heavy menstrual bleeding, 75-80 percent, do not need this surgery. Moreover, this method requires several weeks of recovery and has a high risk of complications.
        • Laparoscopic surgery Some patients with uterine tumors or vaginal bleeding caused by tumors can undergo laparoscopic surgery to treat the symptoms.
        • Endometrial ablation: The doctor will inject the patient with local anesthesia and destroy the uterine lining using various methods, including freezing, electrical current, microwaves, radiofrequency, or hot water. The patient recovers quickly after the surgery. This method can solve the problem of heavy menstrual periods without having to remove the uterus. However, the patient should use continuous birth control to prevent pregnancy, as there is a high risk of serious complications. Sterilization is an effective method of birth control for those who undergo this treatment.
        • Endometrial ablation: Your doctor uses an electric coil to surgically remove the lining of your uterus, which can help with heavy periods. However, women who have an endometrial ablation should not become pregnant, as should women who have an endometrial ablation.
        • D&C: The doctor uses a D&C to open the cervix and scrape or suction out tissue from the uterine lining to help reduce menstrual bleeding when your period comes. Repeat D&C is often needed if heavy periods recur.
        • Uterine Artery Embolization This is used to treat women with heavy menstrual bleeding caused by fibroids. The doctor inserts a catheter through a large blood vessel in the thigh into the uterine artery to shrink the fibroids by blocking the blood vessels in the uterus and stopping the flow of blood to the area.
        • Focused Ultrasound Ablation This method is used to treat women with heavy menstrual bleeding caused by tumors. The doctor uses ultrasound waves to destroy the tumor tissue, causing the tumor to shrink.
        • Fibroid surgery: This method is used to surgically remove uterine fibroids. The surgeon will use different surgical methods depending on the size, number, and location of the fibroids, such as open abdominal surgery, laparoscopic surgery using small incisions, or surgery through the vagina and cervix.

How can heavy menstruation affect your health?

Heavy menstrual bleeding can have adverse health effects. Women who have excessive menstrual bleeding or menstrual bleeding that lasts for many days in a cycle may experience the following health problems:

• Iron deficiency anemia:Women who have heavy menstrual flow are at risk of developing this condition. They will have low hemoglobin levels in their blood because there is little iron in their body. Most patients will have mild symptoms of the disease, including pale skin, fatigue, and exhaustion. Patients who develop more severe or severe symptoms will have shortness of breath, a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and headaches.
• Severe abdominal pain: Women with heavy menstrual flow will also experience abdominal pain, which is a feeling of intense squeezing in the abdomen. Some people may need medication or surgery to treat this symptom.