Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia) Treatment

Menstrual bleeding is a normal part of the female reproductive cycle. Many women, however, experience excessive or prolonged bleeding during their period. This is the medical condition known as menorrhagia.

Menorrhagia can be frustrating and debilitating. Request information about menorrhagia treatment today: Call (408) 946-9453 or contact us online.

Symptoms of Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia is associated with the condition known as  dysmenorrhea, the medical name for painful periods. Those suffering from heavy bleeding are impeded from every day activities and may actually suffer from legitimate blood loss.

The most common signs of heavy menstrual bleeding include:

• Flow heavy enough to soak through multiple sanitary pads or tampons every hour.
• Needing to “double up” on tampons in order to stem bleeding.
• The presence of large blood clots in menstrual blood.
• Bleeding for longer than a typical period or longer than seven days.
• Anemia symptoms, including tiredness and fatigue.

Not every woman suffering from menorrhagia has all of these symptoms. If you are experiencing any one of them, it may be time to seek treatment or diagnosis for heavy menstrual bleeding. The best method of treatment depends on the root cause of the menorrhagia.

Causes of Menorrhagia

There can be many different causes for menorrhagia, which can make it frustrating to deal with. That being said, some causes are far more common than others. Some of the most frequent causes of heavy bleeding include:

• Uterine fibroids
• Pregnancy complications
• Polyps
• Endometriosis
• Hormone imbalance
• Blood clotting diseases
• Certain medications
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Adenomyosis

Sometimes a combination of these causes may lead to severe menorrhagia, while a single one may also contribute to heavy bleeding.

Menorrhagia Treatment

Menorrhagia is treatable. Any treatment plan will typically begin with diagnosis to determine the root cause of the heavy bleeding. Menorrhagia diagnosis methods can include:

• Blood tests
• PAP tests
• Ultrasound
• Endometrial biopsy
• Hysterectomy

The method of treatment for heavy bleeding will vary depending on the root cause of the condition. Possible treatments for menorrhagia include:

• Pain medication
• Hormone therapy
• Iron supplements
• Endometrial ablation

In very severe cases, surgery may be necessary. The two most common surgical procedures for menorrhagiainclude endometrial resection and hysterectomy.

Request More Information Today

Heavy bleeding can make you dread your period more than ever before. Request more information on menorrhagia treatment today: call (408) 946-9453 or contact us online.

Author

Gul A. Zikria, MD, FACOG As an expert in preventive care, innovative treatment solutions, and laparoscopic surgery, board-certified OB/GYN Gul A. Zikria, MD, FACOG, is a trusted practitioner who’s been in private practice since 1985. Dr. Zikria earned his doctor of medicine from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark. He went on to complete a competitive surgical residency program at Georgetown University in Washington. Dr. Zikria then went through a comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology residency program through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center at the Magee-Women’s Hospital. He welcomes new and existing patients to his practice in Milpitas, California.