Menorrhagia can make your life miserable, mainly due to underlying medical conditions. Heavy periods can cause insomnia, disrupt your daily routine and limit your ability to move around. If Lake Mary heavy bleeding prevents you from enjoying your life, Christopher K Quinsey has the ideal solution for your problem.
How can you know if you have heavy bleeding?
Menstruation that lasts longer than seven days is known as menorrhagia. Normal menstruation usually lasts for about two to seven days. A normal menstrual flow may need you to change your tampons or pads every two hours. However, if your bleeding prompts you to change your pads hourly, you may need medical assistance. Having periods outside your menstrual cycle may signify growth or an underlying health condition. Symptoms of heavy bleeding include:
- Post-menopause bleeding
- Large blood clots
- Bleeding when pregnant
- Menstrual periods that occur longer than seven days
If you also experience dizziness, unexplained fatigue, or excruciating pain during your periods, inform your doctor right away.
What factors contribute to heavy bleeding?
In some cases, the cause of menorrhagia may remain unknown, but several factors contribute to heavy bleeding. They include:
- Hormone imbalance
A balance between the estrogen and progesterone hormones regulates endometrium development. Hormonal imbalance causes excess buildup of the endometrium resulting in heavy periods. Thyroid problems, polycystic ovary syndrome, and insulin resistance contribute to hormone imbalances.
- Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids refer to benign tumors that develop during your childbearing years. These abnormal growths usually don’t cause significant symptoms, but they may cause prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding in some cases.
- Intrauterine device (IUD)
The intrauterine device has several side effects, including heavy bleeding. Dr. Quinsey can help you choose alternative birth control options that cause negligible side effects.
- Cancer
If cervical, uterine, and ovarian cancers are left untreated, they may damage your reproductive organs and result in heavy bleeding. Being postmenopausal or having an abnormal Pap smear test increases your chances of experiencing heavy bleeding.
Anti-inflammatory medications such as progestins and estrogen may also contribute to heavy periods.
How can you treat heavy bleeding?
Dr. Quinsey recommends a treatment plan depending on the cause of your heavy periods. He may recommend hormonal treatments like birth control pills to relieve menstrual cramping and minimize blood loss. If you have a hormone imbalance, your doctor may recommend progesterone tablets to reduce bleeding.
If you have cancer, uterine fibroids, or an ectopic pregnancy, your provider may recommend a slightly invasive surgery to treat the medical condition and stop the heavy bleeding.
What complications are associated with heavy bleeding?
Excessive menstrual bleeding may trigger other medical conditions that may reduce the quality of your life. Excessive blood can result in anemia due to reducing the number of red blood cells. Although a diet lacking adequate iron is the primary cause of iron deficiency anemia, heavy bleeding complicates matters. You may also experience severe cramping during heavy bleeding.
Call Dr. Quinsey or book an appointment online for more information about heavy bleeding.
