Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Symptoms and Treatment

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding is a common issue that a number of women face. They may experience the same due to numerous underlying causes that remain undetected and due to delayed medical attention can compound to major health issues. It is also responsible for causing discomfort and affects the daily life and activities of a woman. Women tend to restrict their movements, travel, and exposure due to the issue. It is best to be aware of the signs and symptoms and consult a gynecologist at the earliest.

Signs or symptoms of Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding )

• Using 1 or more sanitary tampons or pads each hour for many consecutive hours.
• Need of using double sanitary protection for controlling menstrual flow
• Need of waking up during night for changing the sanitary protection
• Prolonged bleeding for over a week
• Pass blood clots along with the menstrual flow for over a day
• Restriction of daily activities because of high menstrual flow
• Anemia symptoms i.e. fatigue, tiredness or shortness of breath.

When to visit the doctor

You should take medical assistance prior to your next appointed exam if you are experiencing:

• A heavy vaginal bleeding that soaks at least 1 tampon or pad an hour for over a few hours.
• Irregular vaginal bleeding or bleeding between the periods.
• Vaginal bleeding post menopause

Treatment and drugs for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding :

Precise treatment of menorrhagia depends on several factors:

• Our overall medical history and health
• The causes and severity of the problem
• Our tolerance for specific therapies, medications or procedures
• The chances that our period could become less heavy sometime soon.
• Childbearing plans in the future
• Impact of the condition on our lifestyle
• Our opinions or personal preferences

Drug therapies for Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding ) could comprise of:

• Iron supplements

The doctor of someone with anemia may recommend taking iron supplements regularly. Even if sone one is not anemic yet but has a low level of iron may start taking these supplements rather than waiting to become anemic.

• NSAIDs or Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil, others) or a naproxen, help in reducing menstrual blood loss. They also relieve us from painful menstrual cramps.

• Tranexamic acid or Lysteda

This helps in reducing menstrual blood loss. This needs to be taken during bleeding only.

• Oral contraceptives

Besides birth control, the oral contraceptives can assist in regulating menstrual cycles and decrease episodes of prolonged or excessive menstrual bleeding.

• Oral progesterone

The progesterone hormone can assist in correcting the hormonal imbalance and decrease menorrhagia if taken for 10 days or more of every menstrual cycle.

• Mirena or the hormonal IUD

It is an intrauterine device that releases a kind of progestin known as levonorgestrel that makes uterine lining thinner and decrease the menstrual bleeding and cramps.

Please ensure that you take the medication with close consultation with the doctor as you may also have menorrhagia by taking hormone medication. The doctor may treat your condition by either stopping or making changes to medication.

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