Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia is a term used to describe symptoms of extremely heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Although heavy menstrual bleeding is common and not always a cause for concern, menorrhagia causes extreme blood loss, cramping, and the inability to perform normal activities.

If you have menorrhagia, you might have symptoms like:

• Soaking through a tampon or menstrual pad every hour for several hours
• Waking up at night with a need to change your tampon or pad
• Menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than a week
• Large blood clots (bigger than the size of a quarter)

Menorrhagia can also cause symptoms of anemia, like fatigue or shortness of breath.

Several factors can lead to the development of menorrhagia. Some common causes are:

Hormonal Imbalance

If your key female hormones — estrogen and progesterone — are out of balance, this can cause excess endometrial tissue to develop during your menstrual cycle.

When you have your period, this leads to heavier bleeding. Hormonal issues can also cause problems in the ovaries, fibroids, polyps, or other conditions of the reproductive organs that may bring on menorrhagia.

Bleeding Disorders

If you have a bleeding disorder like von Willebrand’s disease, you might be missing blood-clotting factors. This can lead to heavier menstrual bleeding.

Medications

Certain medications can cause heavier bleeding, including anti-inflammatory drugs, hormone replacement medications, or anticoagulants.

Underlying Health Conditions

For some women, other underlying health conditions — like liver or kidney disease — cause menorrhagia.

Treatment of menorrhagia depends on the cause. Some common methods for addressing this condition include:

• Antibiotics
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Birth control

If medical therapy is unsuccessful, you may need surgical treatment to improve your symptoms. Surgical treatment options may include:

Dilation and Curettage. In this procedure, the doctor opens (dilates) your cervix and then scrapes or suctions tissue from the lining of your uterus to reduce menstrual bleeding.

NovaSure Endometrial Ablation. This procedure is a one-time, 5-minute procedure that can safely and effectively reduce or eliminate heavy menstrual bleeding. The endometrial ablation procedure is designed to remove just the uterine lining-the endometrium–which is the part of your body that can cause heavy periods. No incisions are required. Recommended for women who are finished with childbearing and want relief from heavy bleeding.

Hysterectomy. This is surgery to remove your uterus and cervix. It is a permanent procedure that causes sterility and ends menstrual periods.

Myomectomy. This procedure involves the surgical removal of uterine fibroids.