When should I seek medical help for heavy periods?
If your menstrual bleeding is affecting your ability to go to work or enjoy your life, it’s time to seek medical help. Common indications that your menstrual flow is abnormally heavy include:
- Soaking through a tampon or menstrual pad in an hour
- Needing to change your tampon or pad during the night
- Passing large blood clots
- Feeling chronically tired
- Bleeding for more than a week
If you have these symptoms, you may have menorrhagia, which is the medical term for heavy menstrual bleeding.
What causes heavy periods?
Your heavy bleeding may have any number of different causes. Common causes of heavy periods include:
Hormone imbalance
An imbalance in estrogen and progesterone levels may affect the development of your endometrium, which is the lining that builds up in your uterus and is what you shed during your cycle. A number of health conditions can affect hormone balance and cause abnormalities in the uterine lining, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance, and thyroid problems.
Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow in the lining of your uterus and can cause you to bleed more heavily than normal.
Dysfunction of the ovaries
If your ovary doesn’t release an egg during your cycle, it affects the production of progesterone, creating a hormonal imbalance.
Other causes of heavy periods include polyps, cancer, and certain medication. An intrauterine device (IUD) may also cause heavy periods.
How are heavy periods treated?
Your OB/GYN at Advanced Gynecology & Surgery individualizes your treatment for your heavy periods based on your symptoms, the cause, and your health history.
Common treatments include:
- Birth control to balance hormones
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain
- Progesterone to regulate hormones
- Tranexamic acid, a medication that reduces blood flow
If necessary, your OB/GYN at Advanced Gynecology & Surgery may recommend a procedure to reduce blood flow, such as:
- Endometrial ablation with NovaSure®
- Dilation and curettage
- Removal of your fibroid
For women who no longer plan to get pregnant, a hysterectomy may be recommended to stop the heavy periods.
What is NovaSure?
NovaSure is a simple procedure offered at Advanced Gynecology & Surgery as a treatment for heavy periods. It’s performed at the office and takes only five minutes. NovaSure uses heat energy to remove your endometrial lining and reduce your menstrual bleeding.
It’s not meant for women who plan to have children in the future.
For expert care of your heavy periods, call Advanced Gynecology & Surgery or schedule an appointment using the online booking button.
