What to do about heavy menstrual cycles

If you are a woman who experiences extremely heavy menstrual cycles, you know how it can impact your daily life during your period. Heavy menstrual cycles may be a sign of another issue going on, which is why it is critical that women in the McKinney, TX area who are experiencing them visit with a professional to get a proper diagnosis of their condition before discussing possible treatment options. Dr. Craig Ranch is here to help, and his team is experienced in assisting women with reproductive health concerns.

Why might I be experiencing heavy menstrual cycles?

• Uterine fibroids
• Hormonal imbalance
• Pelvic infection
• Endometrial polyps
• Uterine cancer
• Anemia
• Endometriosis
• Iron deficiency
• Adenomyosis

What is described as heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)?

Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined as blood loss that soaks through sanitary protection every hour for more than 3 consecutive hours, or blood loss that requires changing sanitary protection more frequently than every 2 hours. It can also be defined as any flooding or gushing of blood, or filling up a sanitary pad or tampon in less than 2 hours.

What can I do about heavy menstrual cycles?

If your heavy menstrual cycles are caused by uterine fibroids, there are a number of things you can do. Treatments include:

• Medications: There are several types of medication that can help to shrink fibroids or relieve symptoms like pain and heavy bleeding. These include hormones, such as the birth control pill, and other drugs that block the production of estrogen.
• Surgery: If medications don’t work or your fibroids are very large, surgery may be an option. There are several types of surgery that can be used to remove fibroids, including hysteroscopy (a procedure done through the vagina), laparoscopy (a minimally invasive surgery done through small incisions in the abdomen), and myomectomy (surgery to remove only the fibroids).
• Embolization: This is a procedure where the blood supply to the fibroids is cut off, causing them to shrink.

If you are considering any of these treatments, be sure to discuss all of the risks and benefits with Dr. Craig Ranch of McKinney, TX.

How do I learn more about my options for treatment?

To get the best treatment recommendation, it is vital that patients book a consultation appointment and initial evaluation with the team at Craig Ranch OB/GYN to obtain a definitive diagnosis and discuss possible treatment options. The practice is located at 7900 Henneman Way, Ste #100 and can be reached by phone to request an appointment at (214) 544-6600.