Managing Heavy Periods – Simple and Effective Measures at Nyle Hospital

During periods, every woman feels that she has too much blood loss because it is not possible to measure the actual amount of blood flowing out during menstruation. Hence, it becomes hard to find whether you fall in the category of normal bleeding or heavy periods or otherwise termed as menorrhagia.

Signs of Menorrhagia

There are certain signs and symptoms indicating the flow to be heavy. A woman is regarded to experience heavy periods, if:

The period is seen to lasts for more than 7 days

She uses more than 6 tampons or sanitary pads in a day

She changes her sanitary pads every 2 h

She becomes anaemic due to more blood loss

She experiences painful menstrual periods due to strong contraction of uterus walls

The menstrual bleeding has more blood clots measuring a diameter of more than 1 inch

Women may experience heavy periods at any time after her first menstrual cycle; most often it happens when she nears menopause or skips her periods. After a skipped period, the flow would definitely be heavier than usual.

Causes for Heavy Periods

The cause for heavy bleeding may be due to several physical problems. One of the prime reasons for menorrhagia is the hormones. Menstrual cycle of a woman is controlled by estrogen and progesterone hormones. These two hormones make preparation for a woman to become pregnant by thickening the lining of the uterus known as endometrium. When the eggs are released by the ovaries, it stays in the uterus for fertilization. If the eggs are not fertilized, there will be a drop in hormone levels resulting in shedding of endometrium. It is therefore discarded through vaginal opening in the form of bleeding every month.

Changes in the level of hormones, particularly during teenage, premenopausal stage and usage of specific birth control methods may contribute for abnormal bleeding. Fluctuation in hormone levels may happen, if the woman is subjected to thyroid problem or under special medication.

Problems related to blood clotting is yet another cause for heavy bleeding during menstruation. If the body encounter difficulty in forming clots, woman may experience heavy bleeding. Other chances for causing heavy or abnormal bleeding include:

Uterine fibroids

Uterine cancer

Infection of reproductive organs

Endometrial polyps

Bleeding disorders such as von Willebrand disease

Increased stress

Fluctuations in body weight despite restricted diet

Pregnancy related conditions

Menorrhagia may either serve as a sign for pretty simple and treatable problems like that of hormone imbalances, or the onset of serious condition. If a woman encounters excessive bleeding that exceeds beyond 1 week, or seem to be abnormal than the usual, or if the menstrual cycle is found to affect her day’s activities, it is necessary to seek the guidance of a gynaecologist.