Heavy Menstrual Periods, Menorrhagia Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

Menorrhagia is the medical term for heavy and prolonged menstrual periods. It is true that not all women have similar experiences in what concerns their periods. However, it is considered normal to lose around 40 milliliters of blood in that time of the month. There are women who lose even 80 milliliters and this is not healthy for them. Menorrhagia seems to be a pretty common problem, but it can be solved once its caused are discovered.

Heavy menstrual periods can be determined by another medical condition. In most of the cases it's a uterine fibroid or other growths in the uterus that are, in the great majority of the cases, non-cancerous. This does not mean that medical investigations are not necessary. Pelvic inflammations, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis or hormonal imbalances are other possible causes of menorrhagia. Unfortunately, in some cases the causes remain unknown, although they might be as simple as a vitamin K deficiency. If nothing is done about it, not only that menorrhagia can prevent a woman from going on with her every day activities, but it can also lead to severe cases of anemia, due to heavy loss of blood.

Menorrhagia is not at all difficult to identify because its symptoms are clear. The main one is heavy bleeding that might last up to seven days. Women with menorrhagia need to use extra sanitary protection and they need to change pads or tampons every couple of hours. Blood clots are also common, as well as the fact that the woman feels tired and exhausted because of anemia.

The first step in treating menorrhagia is to identify its cause. It is strongly recommended that women who experience heavy menstrual periods see a doctor. If there is an underlying medical condition, this needs to be treated immediately and menorrhagia will also disappear. The doctor might find necessary some laboratory tests and pelvic examination for identifying potential growths in the uterus. Additional procedures might be needed in order to determine their nature. Menorrhagia treatment might involve hormonal therapy, if the cause is a hormonal imbalance. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also used in order to reduce the blood flow during menstruation and to reduce the intensity of uterine cramps.

Menorrhagia treatment differs depending on the causes of this condition. Sometimes a simple change in the life style and some vitamin supplements can solve the problem and in severe and rare case surgery might be required.

By: Dr Easton Patrick

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Read about Irregular Menstruation Treatment. Also know about Painful Menstruation Treatment. Read about Leucorrhoea Treatment.