Menstrual bleeding along with cramping, bloating, irritability and breast soreness can be hard to deal with. It can be even harder to deal with if the bleeding is extremely heavy, not to mention the panic that sets in at the sight of loosing so much blood. Most women experience this bleeding at some point in their reproductive years and some experience it for most of their reproductive years.
Normal Menstrual Bleeding
During a normal menstrual cycle, the pituitary gland--located in the brain--releases two hormones called luteinizing and follicle-stimulating. The release of these hormones causes the ovary to produce two female hormones called estrogen and progesterone--the hormones responsible for menstruation and ovulation. The ovary produces and releases an egg, which is then sent through the fallopian tubes to the uterus, where the uterine tissue swells in hopes of a pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized, the uterine tissue and lining breaks down and sheds in a menstrual period. According to Merck, a menstrual period lasts anywhere from three to seven days and the menstrual cycle lasts anywhere from 25 to 36 days. During a menstrual period, bleeding can be light, medium or heavy and may contain a few blood clots.
Excessive Menstrual Bleeding
Merck states that women lose between .5 and 2.5 oz. of blood during a menstrual cycle. During this time the period can be light, medium or heavy. Heavy menstrual periods can include cramping and blood clots for three to seven days, or they may be prolonged. At some point or another, women will experience an oddly heavy or prolonged menstrual period. It is normal to experience this when first starting puberty or during the beginning stage of menopause. However, some women will also experience this at some point within their normal reproductive years.
Causes
The most common causes of menorrhagia, heavy menstrual bleeding, are hormonal imbalances, lack of ovulation, uterine fibroids, uterine polyps, use of an intrauterine device, miscarriage, use of anti-coagulants and endometriosis. Hormonal imbalances are often caused by conditions that affect the ovaries or pituitary gland, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian cysts or pending menopause. Uterine fibroids and polyps are benign uterine growths that rely on estrogen to continue growing, so as long as a woman is menstruating, they are likely to keep growing. Endometriosis is a condition that causes the uterine tissue to grow outside of the uterine cavity.
Symptoms
Symptoms of menorrhagia include, but are not limited to, a menstrual period that soaks one pad or tampon an hour for several hours, the need to use double sanitation protection, having to change protection during the night, a period lasting longer than seven days and bleeding that contains large clots. A woman with this condition may also experience symptoms of anemia, which are fatigue, shortness of breath and tiredness.
Treatments
Women who have heavy bleeding are normally prescribed a combination of treatments. First, doctors will check a woman's blood level to make sure she is not anemic due to excessive blood loss. If she is found to be anemic, she will have to take iron supplements. Next, the cause is investigated; if a hormonal problem is found, she will be given combination oral contraceptives, which contain a synthetic combination of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These are normally given in 21- to 28-day packs. In some cases, a woman may have to have a surgical procedure to correct heavy bleeding, such as a hysterectomy, or dilation and curettage (D&C).
