Do you experience longer periods than the usual five days? Do they also involve painful cramps keeping you home during your menstruation? Longer periods with painful cramps are common signs of menorrhagia. If you are unfamiliar with this type of menstruation issue, we have the menorrhagia facts you need to know.
If you see you are having a few of the common signs and symptoms of menorrhagia, they shouldn’t be ignored and letting your doctor know as soon as possible helps to treat the issue before it becomes more severe.
What Is Menorrhagia?
Menorrhagia is excessive menstrual bleeding that lasts more than seven days. With the need to change your pad or tampon after less than two hours, you pass clots the size of a quarter or larger due to heavy bleeding.
Common signs of menorrhagia are:
- Periods lasting longer than 7 days
- Lack of energy or shortness of breath
- Heavy menstrual periods which soak through one or more pads or tampons
- Changing your menstrual tampons and pads during the night
- Constant pain in the lower part of the stomach
- Menstrual flow with blood clots the size of a quarter
- Need to double up on pads or tampons to prevent leakage
If left untreated, there are many downsides to menorrhagia such as a lower quality of life, especially once a month during your menstrual cycle. If left untreated, anemia may also occur, leaving you feeling tired and weak.
The Menorrhagia Facts to Know
Get a complete understanding of this menstruation issue with these informative menorrhagia facts. Menorrhagia shouldn’t take over your life and getting proper care for it in time helps to avoid it from becoming a larger issue in your life.
What causes it?
Uterine related problems, such as fibroids, hormone-related problems, other rare diseases like von Willebrand or platelet function disorder often cause menorrhagia. Some cases often find it being caused by ovarian or uterine cancer.
How do you know if you have it?
Many women perceive “heavy bleeding” differently, but if you show symptoms mentioned above, there’s no harm in asking your doctor for help. Many women do not know that there are treatment options for menorrhagia, or are too embarrassed to ask. About one of every five women are diagnosed with menorrhagia, so talking with your doctor openly is important for your health.
What to do if you have menorrhagia?
Your doctor may prescribe drug therapy to help your menorrhagia with iron supplements, ibuprofen, birth control pills to regulate hormones and cycle, or other drug medications. In more serious cases, your doctor may prescribe a dilation and curettage (D&C), operative hysteroscopy, endometrial ablation, or even a hysterectomy.
Suffering from Menorrhagia Symptoms?
You shouldn’t have to experience long and painful menstrual periods. After reading the menorrhagia facts and you have a few of the symptoms, contact your doctor for proper treatments.
At Nevada Surgery and Cancer Care, our gynecologic oncology will help you get your periods on the right track and keep you from suffering any longer. Contact us today to speak to our of our expert gynecologic oncologist today!