Heavy periods affect most women at a point in their lives. Although there is no precise test or procedure to determine a heavy period, several methods are available to differentiate between a normal and heavy period resulting from a serious medical problem.
As you read on, you would understand menorrhagia and how to identify heavy periods that require professional medical care.
What is menorrhagia?
An abnormally heavy period is medically referred to as menorrhagia. Menorrhagia is characterised by an intense period of pain and loss of a large amount of blood that negatively affects daily activities.
Signs of menorrhagia?
Menorrhagia symptoms differ between people, but the following are common signs to look out for to know if you suffer from this condition.
- Changing your tampon or pad in the middle of the night
- Limiting your activities
- Having soaked tampon or pad which needs changing every hour or after only a few hours
- Needing double sanitary pads during periods
- Passing clotted blood larger than a quarter
Although experiencing the symptoms above does not indicate menorrhagia, it may be a sign of a serious condition.
Causes of menorrhagia
Identifying the cause of heavy periods in some cases may not be possible, but the following conditions make women susceptible to menorrhagia.
- Hormone imbalance
Progesterone and oestrogen regulate the breakdown and formation of the uterine lining. Abnormal levels of the hormones above may lead to excessive growth of the uterine lining, which causes heavy bleeding when the lining sheds.
- Polys or uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous cell growths in the uterus. They usually grow during the child-bearing years. Sometimes, they lead to heavy or prolonged bleeding and, in some cases, both symptoms.
- Intrauterine device
After you get an IUD, you may have abnormal bleeding for a while. Excessive and prolonged periods are common side effects of IUDs. If the bleeding continues for long and several months after inserting the IUD, contact your doctor.
- Bleeding disorders
Certain blood disorders such as Willebrand’s disease may affect blood clotting, causing menorrhagia.
- Medications
Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and anticoagulants such as blood thinners may make you bleed more than usual.
- Other medical conditions
Medical conditions such as PCOS, diabetes, obesity, and kidney disease may cause abnormally heavy periods.
Age may determine the cause of menorrhagia. For example, adolescents who do not have their periods for some months may have abnormally heavy periods when they get their period. This condition is more common within the first two years after young girls start seeing their periods (menarche).
Older women are more likely to have bleeding disorders, polyps, fibroids, and kidney disorders, leading to menorrhagia.
Long-term impacts of menorrhagia
Untreated menorrhagia may affect your health negatively. It may lead to the following.
- Anaemia
Anaemia occurs from a reduced number of red blood cells in the circulatory system. The body produces haemoglobin using iron. The haemoglobin helps to transport oxygen to the red blood cells, so you will experience weakness, fatigue, pale skin, cold toes, and fingers if you have insufficient iron.
- Severe pain
Menorrhagia causes intense period cramps (dysmenorrhea), which need medical attention
Diagnosis of menorrhagia
If you experience symptoms of abnormally heavy periods, you would have to see your doctor confirm whether you have menorrhagia or not. Your doctor will perform an evaluation, and ask questions about your menstrual cycle and medical history.
You would have to perform the following tests to get an accurate diagnosis.
- Blood test
You will need a blood test to check for thyroid disorders, blood-clotting abnormalities, and anaemia.
- Smear or Pap test
A Pap test involves swabbing the cervical cells to check for inflammation, cell changes indicating cancer, and infection.
- Ultrasound
Ultrasound can help in the detection of uterine, pelvic, and ovarian abnormalities.
Treatment for menorrhagia
Getting a diagnosis is important because it helps the doctor know the right treatment plan for you. The most common treatment for menorrhagia is medical therapy which involves taking OTC painkillers like Advil to relieve the pains. Your doctor may prescribe other medications to reduce blood loss.
These medications include tranexamic acid (Lysteda) to prevent excess blood loss and contraceptives (hormonal IUD or the pill) to regulate your menstrual cycle. In extreme cases where medical therapy does not alleviate the symptoms, the doctor may recommend surgery to clean the uterus or remove the uterus (hysterectomy).
Having menorrhagia is quite discomforting, so it is important to talk to the best gynaecologist in your area to get the right menorrhagia diagnosis and treatment.
Contact Gynaecology Clinic today on 020 7183 0435 to schedule an appointment with a private gynaecologist specialist in Harley Street, London you experience menorrhagia symptoms.
