Diagnosis of menorrhagia
Diagnosing this condition is often done with a physical evaluation and a description of the symptoms. Most women who have this condition may experience:
- Soaking through sanitary pads and tampons within an hour for several consecutive hours
- Bleeding that lasts longer than a week
- Blood clots passing that are larger than the size of a quarter
- Restriction of daily activities due to the heavy flow
- Use of double sanitary protection (tampons paired with sanitary pads)
- Changing of pads and tampons overnight to eliminate leakage
- Increased fatigue and tiredness during their menstrual flow
- Symptoms of anemia
What can cause heavy menstrual bleeding?
There are many reasons why a woman may experience routine heavy menstrual bleeding, or notice a dramatic increase in their flow. Causes of heavy menstrual bleeding may be caused by:
- Hormonal imbalances
- Uterine fibroids
- Polyps
- Adenomyosis
- Ovary disfunction
- IUDs
- Pregnancy complications
- Inherited bleeding disorders
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Certain medications
- Uterine or cervical cancer
After a proper diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding, women can then work with their doctor to determine the cause and discuss treatment options. Most options may include medication therapy or certain procedures.
- Medications – medications can be taken to reduce flow, maintain proper hormone balance, and relieve patients of accompanying painful menstrual cramping. These may include anti-inflammatory medications, tranexamic acid, oral contraceptives, hormonal IUDs, or oral progesterone.
- Procedures – if medication management does not resolve the issue, certain procedures may be recommended. They include dilation and curettage, focused ultrasound surgery, endometrial ablation, myomectomy, uterine artery embolization, endometrial resection, and hysterectomy.
Are you experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding?
It might be time to be evaluated by a medical professional to determine the cause of your condition. Our team at Craig Ranch OB/GYN is here for you, and can assist with a wide range of reproductive health concerns. Call the office at (214) 544-6600 to schedule an appointment with our staff at 7900 Henneman Way, Ste. 100 in McKinney, TX.
