Heavy menstrual bleeding (formerly known as menorrhagia) is a common disorder among, people who menstruate. It refers to bleeding lasting longer than seven days and involves more blood flow than is typical during menstruation. Talk to your doctor gynaecologist in Mumbai about treatment options if you’re experiencing disruption to your everyday life because of heavy period bleeding.
What is heavy menstrual bleeding ?
Periods that are exceptionally heavy or lengthy are referred to as heavy menstrual bleeding (previously known as menorrhagia). “Heavy” refers to either higher blood loss than usual throughout the menstrual cycle or a period lasting longer than seven days. You can bleed so heavily that you need to change your pad or tampon every hour for a few consecutive hours. Blood clots the size of a quarter or more may travel through your veins.
It is never natural to experience heavy menstrual flow to the point where it disrupts your everyday routine. Your healthcare professional can suggest therapies to control excessive blood flow.
Is heavy menstrual bleeding serious?
If you experience severe menstrual bleeding to the point where you exhibit anemia symptoms, it may be dangerous. Anemia is a disorder that results from the body containing insufficient amounts of iron. When left untreated, anemia can be fatal.
Furthermore, early medical action is necessary for certain illnesses like cancer that can cause severe menstrual bleeding. Consult your healthcare practitioner about any hazards associated with bleeding during your menstruation.
Symptoms and Causes:
What are the signs and symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding?
Heavy menstrual bleeding symptoms include:
Stomach pain.
Intervals extending over seven days.
passing blood clots that are at least 25 mm in size. The blood can seem rust-colored, pink, brown, or red.
bleeding through one or more pads or tampons every hour for longer than two hours at a time.
losing over 80 milliliters of blood instead of the usual 35–40 milliliters during your menstrual cycle.
Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, exhaustion, and shortness of breath.
You can also see symptoms of a disorder called pica in addition to anemia. Pale skin, hair loss, and an inclination to eat anything other than food—such as paper, hair, dirt, etc.—are indications of pica. If you have any of these symptoms, consult your doctor.
How do you know if you have heavy menstrual bleeding?
A heavy menstrual flow might negatively impact one’s quality of life. A common misconception among those who get heavy periods is that they should be uncomfortable and bothersome. It’s possible that they imitated those in their families who endured heavy periods without seeking medical attention. But you should never have to limit your activities or put up with discomfort because of periods.
When your period comes, you ought to be capable of:
Every three to four hours, wear a regular pad or tampon without changing it.
At no time do you need to double up (wear two pads or two tampons at the same time) when using a single menstruation product.
Don’t bother bringing extra bags of pads or extra clothes when you leave your house.
Go about your life as usual—don’t skip out on enjoyable activities, avoid going out in public, or miss work.
What causes heavy menstrual bleeding?
Heavy menstrual bleeding can have many causes, ranging from hormone-related issues to various medical conditions and even stress.
Hormone imbalances
Your body generates hormones like progesterone and estrogen, which help control your menstrual cycle and the heaviness of your periods. Heavy menstrual bleeding may be the result of a hormone-imbalanced medical condition. Among the causes are:
Anovulation.
Thyroid disease.
PCOS.
In addition to interfering with your body’s hormone production, being overweight can cause heavy menstrual flow.
