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Myths and Facts About Menorrhagia

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:

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:

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:

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:

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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