If your menstrual period is excessively heavy, prolonged, or irregular, it’s known as menorrhagia You should see your doctor if you have excessively heavy or prolonged menstrual periods that interfere with your daily life Excessive bleeding can cause anemia, or iron deficiency
What happens if menorrhagia goes untreated?
If left untreated, chronic menorrhagia can lead to anemia and severe pain Anemia due to menorrhagia will present symptoms like fatigue, weakness, chest pain and shortness of breath If you experience severe pain with menorrhagia, a medical evaluation and treatment may be needed
How do you fix menorrhagia?
How is menorrhagia treated? Iron supplements to put more iron into your blood Ibuprofen to reduce pain and amount of bleeding Birth control to make periods more regular and reduce bleeding (pills, vaginal ring, patch) Intrauterine contraception (IUD) to make periods more regular and reduce bleeding
What does menorrhagia with regular cycle mean?
Menorrhagia is defined as menstruation at regular cycle intervals but with excessive flow and duration and is one of the most common gynecologic complaints in contemporary gynecology Clinically, menorrhagia is defined as total blood loss exceeding 80 mL per cycle or menses lasting longer than 7 days
What is the cause of menorrhagia?
Menorrhagia is heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding It is a common problem in women It is caused by hormone problems, problems with the uterus, or other health conditions Menorrhagia is diagnosed with a pelvic exam, ultrasound, pap test, and sometimes a biopsy
When should I be concerned about menorrhagia?
If you need to change your tampon or pad after less than 2 hours or you pass clots the size of a quarter or larger, that is heavy bleeding If you have this type of bleeding, you should see a doctor Untreated heavy or prolonged bleeding can stop you from living your life to the fullest
Can thyroid problems cause menorrhagia?
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism result in menorrhagia Even subclinical cases of hypothyroidism produce heavy uterine bleeding in 20% of patients Menorrhagia usually resolves with correction of the thyroid disorder Prolactin-producing pituitary tumors cause menorrhagia by disrupting (GnRH) secretion
Is it bad to have menorrhagia?
Heavy menstrual bleeding, called menorrhagia, is fairly common but may lead to serious complications Untreated heavy menstrual bleeding can cause anemia If you experience weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, or chest pain along with heavy menstrual bleeding, it’s recommended that you seek medical attention
What does big blood clots in period mean?
Although there is inconsistency on what exactly causes period clots, they’re a common and a normal characteristic of period blood on heavy flow volume days If you have multiple blood clots larger than the size of a quarter that can be an indication of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB)
Does vitamin C reduce menstrual flow?
Vitamin C This vitamin may help reduce bleeding It might also help your body absorb iron, which can help prevent iron deficiency
Can menorrhagia be life threatening?
Fortunately, it’s not a life-threatening condition, but excessive loss of blood, prolonged and irregular periods and bleeding between periods can have a dramatic impact on your life Menorrhagia is recognised as a medical condition and it is treatable
Will menorrhagia stop on its own?
Menorrhagia can usually be managed with medication and lifestyle changes In some cases, heavy periods caused by fibroids, growths or endometriosis might be best treated with surgery The best way to know which treatment options will work best for you is to talk to a doctor
Can you get pregnant if you have menorrhagia?
If you’re trying to get pregnant, even though it may take a little longer or require some extra effort, many women with irregular menstrual cycles do get pregnant and deliver healthy babies
What are the signs and symptoms of menorrhagia?
Signs and symptoms of menorrhagia may include: Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours Needing to use double sanitary protection to control your menstrual flow Needing to wake up to change sanitary protection during the night Bleeding for longer than a week
Is menorrhagia curable?
You may need surgical treatment for menorrhagia if medical therapy is unsuccessful Treatment options include: Dilation and curettage (D&C) In this procedure, your doctor opens (dilates) your cervix and then scrapes or suctions tissue from the lining of your uterus to reduce menstrual bleeding
Should I go to the ER for menorrhagia?
Go to the nearest emergency room if you experience severe, acute bleeding in which you soak through four or more pads or tampons in a two-hour period 1 If you are pregnant, seek immediate medical care if you have any menstrual bleeding
Can low iron cause heavy periods?
Iron deficiency anemia is of particular concern because it leads to fatigue and shortness of breath as well as poor school and job performance Iron deficiency and heavy periods are too often ignored but can be signs of an underlying bleeding disorder
Is it normal to have golf ball sized blood clots during period?
“A lot of women have really small clots that might be a dime-size or a quarter-size during their period and that’s normal for them,” she says “It’s problematic if you’re passing golf ball-sized clots and passing them every couple of hours”Sep 20, 2021
Can fibroids come out as clots?
These growths can be as small as your thumb or as large as a basketball In about a third of patients, uterine fibroids cause a range of symptoms that interfere with daily life, such as: Heavy periods that might include clots
Can hypothyroid cause irregular periods?
Because women’s reproductive systems depend on thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism can affect menstrual cycles One study showed that over 20% of women with hypothyroidism had some type of irregular period, especially heavy periods or infrequent periods
What are symptoms of a bad thyroid?
Because our biological functions are so often tied to our hormones, there are a number of symptoms that could indicate an issue with your thyroid High Heart Rate Excessive Tiredness Anxiety Weight Gain or Loss Body Shakes Feeling Chilly or Overheated Trouble Concentrating Hair Loss