Heavy periods may indicate a health concern
Heavy periods, also known as heavy menstrual bleeding or menorrhagia, are a common concern in women, with approximately 1 in 3 women seeking medical treatment. Our San Antonio OBGYNs advise women that heavy bleeding is not just uncomfortable and disruptive to a woman’s life. It may also be a health concern.
What is considered heavy menstrual bleeding?
“Heavy” bleeding may be defined differently by different women, but doctors define it by a woman’s experience during her period.
- Bleeding that lasts more than seven days
- Soaking through a tampon or pad every hour for several hours
- Needing to change a tampon or pad overnight
- Wearing more than one tampon or pad at a time to manage bleeding
- Passing blood clots larger than a quarter
- Feeling tired or short of breath
Learn the cause of heavy periods
Our San Antonio OBGYNs recommend that women experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding make an appointment. Several significant health problems can cause heavy periods and require treatment. Also, left untreated, heavy bleeding can result in iron-deficient anemia.
Potential causes include uterine growths, such as fibroids or polyps; irregular ovulation; and bleeding disorders. Issues with the uterine lining, such as adenomyosis and endometriosis, can cause heavy bleeding, as can polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Other causes include medications and cancer. For some women, the reason is unknown.
Getting to a menorrhagia diagnosis
To determine whether a woman has menorrhagia, her OBGYN will first take a medical history. Questions will include a discussion of her menstrual history.
Before going to the doctor, our San Antonio OBGYNs encourage women to track their menstrual cycle for a few months using a calendar. Include information such as when your period starts, how many days it lasts, and daily flow level.
The doctor will perform a physical exam, including a pelvic exam. Blood tests can identify anemia, clotting issues and thyroid abnormalities. Other tests might include a Pap test, pregnancy test, sexually transmitted infections tests, or endometrial biopsy.
Our OBGYNs use ultrasound, hysteroscopy, sonohysterography or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to generate images of the uterus and other pelvic organs to determine the source of the bleeding.
Deciding on treatment
Treatment for heavy periods considers the cause of the bleeding, the patient’s age and health, and her desired outcome. If a woman intends to have children, it is factored into treatment decisions. If a patient’s primary concern is to stop bleeding or reduce pain, treatment plans focus on those outcomes.
Medication is typically the first line of treatment for menorrhagia. It may help regulate periods, decrease bleeding, and shorten the length of each cycle.
If medication does not produce the desired results, surgical options include myomectomy, endometrial ablation, and uterine artery embolization. In more extreme cases, hysterectomy may be an option.
Heavy periods do not need to define your days and nights every month. Our San Antonio OBGYNs can help identify the cause and provide treatment options. Contact Live Oak Women’s Health for an appointment.
