Menorrhagia - Definition, causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Menorrhagia

How do you define Menorrhagia?

Menorrhagia is defined as excessively heavy or prolonged uterine bleeding, which may be caused by medical problems or hormone imbalances. If you are soaking through enough sanitary protection products to require changing more than every one or two hours, or having a period that lasts over seven days, you are probably experiencing abnormal menstrual bleeding.

Cause of Menorrhagia

Many times there is no particular cause to be found. Sometimes a structural irritation in the womb is to blame, such as a quite common condition where there are localized areas of overgrowth of the muscle wall of the womb (fibroids or fibromyomas), and when there is a coil (or Intra Uterine Device) in the womb. Heavy periods are more common after sterilization, and happen more in women who are overweight, and also with certain hormonal upsets.

Symptoms of Menorrhagia

Symptoms related by a patient with menorrhagia often can be more revealing than laboratory tests. Persistent heavy periods can lead to thinning of the blood (anaemia), which can cause tiredness, shortness of breath, faintness and even angina. Symptoms of this sort would usually prompt people to see the doctor anyway.

Treatment of Menorrhagia

If an underlying cause for the abnormal bleeding is identified, this needs to be treated. For example, infections can be treated with antibiotics. Fibroids and polyps can be removed surgically. If cancer is identified, it may be treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or a combination of these. If you are anaemic, you may need to take extra iron. There are medications which can cut down the blood loss. Some of these do not use hormones, and merely work on the way in which the blood clots. Many people see that as an advantage. Some pain relieving anti-inflammatory drugs which people take for period pain do actually cut down blood loss as well.

Surgical Options for menorrhagia

If your menorrhagia is severe, your health care provider may suggest that you pursue surgical options. Endometrial ablation involves using intense ultrasound waves to kill the endometrial lining. This will stop heavy bleeding, but it will interfere with pregnancy. A hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure in which your uterus is removed. It is offered only in severe cases in which fertility is not a concern.

Medicines Menorrhagia

• Mefenamic acid (eg Ponstan)
• The combined oral contraceptive pill (which combines oestrogen with a progestogen
• Tranexamic acid (Cyklokapron)

For women who have had all the children they want, surgery may be suggested

What complications can heavy periods cause?

Menstrual bleeding that is prolonged or excessive over several cycles may lead to health complications if not properly managed.

• Iron deficiency anemia is caused by the loss of red blood cells during heavy menstrual bleeding. Anemia typically causes weakness and fatigue though women with more severe cases may even find themselves short of breath, light-headed, experiencing restless leg syndrome or a rapid heart rate. Anemia can be easily remedied and reversed with iron supplements and proper treatment of menorrhagia.
• Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
• Infertility

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