Let us talk strictly medical today. There are many things that happen in our body but we just overlook it and think it is normal. Most of these unusual occurrences are not normal. As a female, it is a wise thing to have a gynecologist personally, it might cost a fortune but every single detail about your health matters–or better still, make one your friend, good idea yes?
Okay today we are talking about this medical condition Menorrhagia…most people might be victims of this and not know.
What is Menorrhagia?
Menorrhagia is the medical term for menstrual periods with abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding. Although heavy menstrual bleeding is a common concern among pre-menopausal women, most women don’t experience blood loss severe enough to be defined as menorrhagia.
With menorrhagia, every period you have causes enough blood loss and cramping that you can’t maintain your usual activities. If you have menstrual bleeding so heavy that you dread your period, talk with your doctor. There are many effective treatments for menorrhagia.
Symptoms of menorrhagia may include:
Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours.
Needing to use double sanitary protection to control your menstrual flow.
Needing to wake up to change sanitary protection during the night.
Bleeding for longer than a week.
Passing blood clots with menstrual flow for more than one day.
Restricting daily activities due to heavy menstrual flow.
Symptoms of anemia, such as tiredness, fatigue or shortness of breath.
Causes of Menorrhagia includes:
Disorders of coagulation: With the shedding of an endometrial lining’s blood vessels, normal coagulation process must occur to limit and eventually stop the blood flow. Blood disorders of platelets (such as ITP) or coagulation (such as von Willebrand disease) or use of anticoagulant medication are therefore possible causes, although a rare minority of cases.
Hormonal imbalance: This is the second common cause of heavy bleeding, without any obvious abnormality. This is a minor procedure where the opening of the womb (cervix) is dilated and widened so that an instrument called curette can be introduced in the uterus to scrape the inner lining.
These scrapings are taken for laboratory examination under a microscope. According to the nature of the cells, the doctor may be able to decide what type of hormonal deficiency is there. Appropriate treatment with hormones solves the problem of heavy periods.
Miscarriage induced Menorrhagia: If a single period is delayed and there is heavy bleeding, it may be an indication of early miscarriage. Consult a doctor to rule out this possibility.
Menorrhagia due to IUCD: Commonly used intra-uterine contraceptive devices are ‘loop or Copper-T’. If the periods have become heavier following the introduction of a loop, it could possibly be the side effect of the same. There is no cause for concern, as in two or three months, it goes back to original form. After a few months, it stabilizes by itself. However, if the bleeding is heavier than usual and it disturbs day-to-day routine, then the loop may have to be removed and an alternative method of contraception should be looked for.
Fibroids causing Menorrhagia: If the periods are heavy and are becoming more painful, the possibility of fibroids (non-cancerous tumors of the uterus) should be considered. Another cause for heavy periods is endometriosis. In this condition there is a formation of womb lining tissue outside the uterus. A doctor should be consulted and investigations like laproscopy and sonography will confirm the diagnosis. The treatment can be medical or surgical depending upon the cause. Fibroids are more common in women over thirty-five years of age. If fibroids are too big and the woman has crossed the childbearing age, fibroids along with the uterus may be removed surgically (hysterectomy).
Treatments
Iron Supplements: It may be required as you are having a heavy blood loss to counter anemia.
Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs. It may also help to reduce blood loss.
Oral Contraceptives.
Progesterone: It may help if the bleeding is due to hormonal imbalance then progesterone may correct the hormonal imbalance.
Bed rest
Avoid over exertion
No vigorous exercise
Cold showers
Avoid anxiety and tension
Just be sure to speak to a gynecologist, Good luck.