Excessive Bleeding: Know the Cause

Excessive menstrual bleeding is a common problem faced by many women and adolescent girls and refers to bleeding lasting longer than seven days and involves menstrual bleeding that's so heavy that it interferes with daily life. It affects around 25% to 30% of women and it can be serious as losing too much blood can put you at risk of Anemia.

Common Causes of Excessive Menstrual Bleeding Are:

Hormonal imbalance: Anovulation, Thyroid disease, and Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are common conditions that cause hormonal imbalance.

Dysfunctional Ovaries: Ovaries don’t release an egg during the menstrual cycle.

Non-cancerous Growths in the Uterus: Benign growths in the uterus can cause excessive menstrual bleeding, too. Causes include:

1. Polyps.
2. Fibroids.
3. Adenomyosis.

Cancerous Growths in the Uterus: Conditions that increase the risk of getting cancer, including endometrial hyperplasia, as well as cancers that affect the reproductive system, can cause excessive menstrual bleeding. These include:

• Uterine cancer.
• Cervical cancer.

IUD(intrauterine devices): Excessive bleeding will be well-known after birth control devices

Infection: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) cause heavy bleeding.

Common Signs Experienced During Excessive Menstrual Bleeding Include:

• Abdominal pain.
• Need of double sanitary pad during periods.
• Periods longer than 7 days.
• Limitation of daily activities due to Excessive bleeding.
• Bleeding between periods.
• Passing blood clots, size of a quarter or bigger. The blood may appear red, pink, brown, or rust-like.
• Anemia symptoms: feeling exhausted, tired, or short of breath.

If your periods are disrupting life, it's time to see a doctor.

Diagnosis of Excessive Bleeding

1. Pelvic Exam: The doctor will do a physical examination
2. Blood Tests: To detect anemia or any blood disorder.
3. Ultrasound: Can look for fibroids and polyps.
4. Pap Smear: To detect cervix changes
5. Biopsy: To detect any uterine irregularities.
6. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): To check for abnormal structures inside the uterus when ultrasound is unable to do that.
7. Cervical/ Vaginal Swab Culture: To test for infection, and any medical history.

Treatment

Medication:

1. Iron supplements improve iron stores.
2. Birth control pills may help make periods more regular and lighten blood flow.
3. Hormone therapy helps to balance the amount of estrogen and progesterone in the body so that menstrual flow isn't as heavy.

Procedure:

1. Hysteroscopy: A hysteroscopy to check for polyps, fibroids, or other irregular tissue in the uterus. Hysteroscopy allows providers to inspect the vagina, cervix, and uterus. Hysteroscopy can be diagnostic as well as therapeutic in the same sitting.
2. Endometrial Ablation: A procedure that destroys all or part of the lining of the uterus.
3. Mirena: Mirena for hormonal changes related to bleeding.
4. Hysterectomy: Some patients who have completed their families and are not responding to medical management may need a hysterectomy.

Consult Dr. Sunita Arora, she will provide a care path that will provide relief from pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, pain during sex, or any other concerns regarding menstruation. She is a well-known gynecologist in Delhi NCR. Consult her now!