5 Common Causes of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Understanding the causes of heavy menstrual bleeding can help inform effective treatment or at least symptom relief. Here, the team discusses five common causes of heavy bleeding.
Myths and Facts About Menorrhagia
If you’re one of the millions of American women struggling with menorrhagia, or abnormally heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, you’re probably frustrated by the toll it takes. You may also be confused by the information floating around about heavy bleeding.
Board-certified OB/GYN, Asia Mohsin, MD, and the care team at Progressive Women’s Health in Friendswood, Texas, are here to help. Our team offers expert diagnosis and treatment for women suffering from menorrhagia.
We also believe in putting the power back in our patients’ hands with ongoing patient education. Take a moment to separate myth from fact about menorrhagia and how we can help you reclaim your life.
MYTH 1: Heavy periods are normal periods.
Fact: Losing more than 80mL of blood during menstruation is not normal and constitutes menorrhagia.
This common disorder is defined as menstrual bleeding that lasts for more than seven days or menstrual bleeding that’s abnormally heavy (>80mL). Since it’s difficult to measure how much blood you lose during your period, some real-life signs of abnormally heavy bleeding include:
- Needing to change feminine products every two hours or less
- Passing clots about the size of a quarter or larger
- Not being able to get through the night without changing your tampon or pad
- Bleeding that prevents you from carrying out normal activities
- Periods that are so heavy you’re tired, out of breath, or have no energy
- Bleeding accompanied by deep, heavy pain
Long and/or heavy periods can be caused by a number of underlying conditions. To make certain you get the right treatment for you, it’s important to talk to Dr. Mohsin, so she can determine the underlying cause.
MYTH 2: Menorrhagia only happens after women give birth.
Fact: Heavy bleeding is a result of uterine problems, hormonal imbalances, or other conditions that can occur regardless of whether you’ve recently given birth or not.
It’s true your hormones can be out of balance after childbirth and other times of physical change, like puberty or menopause. But other conditions can trigger menorrhagia at any age or stage of life, including:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Diabetes
- Cushing syndrome
- Thyroid disorders
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)
- Uterine fibroids
- Certain cancers
- Liver or kidney diseases
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Bleeding disorders
If you experience menorrhagia, it’s important to talk to Dr. Mohsin to determine the underlying cause.
MYTH 3: Menorrhagia doesn’t cause other health problems.
Fact: Chronically heavy or prolonged periods can negatively impact your health and quality of life.
Menorrhagia takes a toll on your body, and the heavy bleeding it causes can cause other problems, including issues like:
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Abdominal pain
- Chronic fatigue and weakness
- Severe pain
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling cold
- Reduced immune strength
If you’re experiencing menorrhagia, Dr. Mohsin orders a blood test to evaluate your hemoglobin, hematocrit, and iron levels along with the size of your red blood cells to check for anemia. Getting treatment for excessive bleeding early helps prevent complications and puts you back in control of your life.
MYTH 4: There’s nothing you can do about menorrhagia.
Fact: Many different treatment options exist, but the right therapy for you depends on the root cause of your heavy bleeding.
At Progressive Women’s Health, Dr. Mohsin and our compassionate team work to find the best solution for your unique case of menorrhagia. A careful evaluation of your medical history, current lifestyle, symptoms, and comprehensive labs and imaging studies helps Dr. Mohsin decide the best course of treatment, which may include:
- Oral contraceptives
- Hormonal IUD
- Endometrial ablation
- Removing uterine or ovarian cysts
- Hormone replacement therapy
For help with menorrhagia and other abnormal bleeding, don’t hesitate to contact the experts at Progressive Women’s Health in Friendswood, Texas. You can schedule an appointment by calling our friendly staff at 281-993-4072 or requesting an in-person appointment or telemedicine online at your convenience.
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