Let the Flow Stop: Treatment Options for Heavy Periods

Is your period flow heavy and lasting longer than a week? It is usual for you to experience cramps and unusual bleeding at some point in life, but where do you draw the line between what is normal and a medical condition? Heavy periods can be a sign of an underlying medical condition and should not be ignored. Suncoast Women's Care provides comprehensive reproductive health care services to the residents of Trinity, Florida and the surrounding areas. What is Menorrhagia? Menorrhagia is a menstrual disorder where there is heavy and extended bleeding. You may have to change your pads or tampon after every hour if suffering from this condition. Other signs of the condition to be on the lookout include nighttime bleeding and blood clots in your monthly discharge. Wanda Torres, MD, FACOG, will perform tests to establish underlying medical conditions causing you to have menorrhagia. Causes of Heavy Menstrual BleedingrnHormonal ImbalancesrnYou are likely to experience heavy menstrual flow during adolescence and menopause. During these two periods, your body is experiencing drastic hormonal changes, causing you to have a heavier flow. Hormonal imbalance can also occur due to the use of non-hormonal birth control methods such as intrauterine devices. IUDs can make the glands of the uterine wall lining to become embedded in the uterine muscles, making you have painful and heavy period flows. Lupus and blood platelet disorders can also make you have heavy period flows. Miscarriages Miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies can lead to heavy bleeding during your menstrual cycle. You need to have prenatal care, so your gynecologist can detect instances where a fertilized egg becomes implanted in the fallopian tube. Uterine Tumors You can also experience heavy menstrual flows due to fibroids. These are noncancerous growths in the uterus that mostly affect women during childbearing years. Heavy periods can also be due to diseases affecting the pelvis (PID), kidney, thyroid, or the liver. Treatments for Heavy Periods Birth Control: Your doctor can administer certain birth control hormones to relieve heavy menstrual flow even if you are not sexually active. If you are sexually active, it is advisable to talk to your doctor about which method is least likely to cause heavy periods. Antibiotics: Your doctor will use antibiotics to treat certain infections including pelvic inflammatory disease, lupus, and noncancerous tumors such as fibroids. Chemo or Radiation: If your heavy bleeding is caused by cancer of the reproductive system, your doctor will work with an oncologist to take you through chemotherapy or radiotherapy to get rid of the cancer cells. You may require surgery to remove some tumors. If that time of the month lingers memories of pain due to prolonged and heavy bleeding, we are here to help. Visit us today to learn more about how to manage the condition and let us conduct tests to get to the root cause of your problem. It is your time to regain your freedom from period pains!