A menstrual period normally lasts anywhere from three to seven days. However, certain medical conditions can cause the bleeding to go well beyond this time period. Many of these conditions cause the hormones that are responsible for menstruation--estrogen and progesterone--to fluctuate or secrete in higher or lower levels than normal, which causes longer than normal menstrual bleeding.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are benign uterine growths that form in the uterine cavity, uterine lining or inside of the uterine muscle. According to MedlinePlus, uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic tumors, affecting 1 of every 5 women in their childbearing years. Researchers aren't sure what causes uterine fibroids, but they have discovered a link to the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is the hormone that controls the menstrual cycle and ovulation. As long as there is enough estrogen to cause menstruation, the uterine fibroids grow. Other symptoms of uterine fibroids include abdominal fullness, constipation, gas, bleeding between periods, pelvic cramping and pain during intercourse. Uterine fibroids normally go away on their own around menopause, but in some cases doctors will prescribe oral contraceptives to help correct hormone levels, causing the fibroid to shrink. In some rare cases a woman may have to have her uterus removed to stop prolonged pain or extremely heavy bleeding.
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the two- to eight-year transition stage right before the start of menopause. During menopause, the body's estrogen production is too low to continue menses, so menstruation ends and so does ovulation. In perimenopause, the body is still producing enough estrogen to cause menstruation, but in many instances the bleeding will not be regular. This is due to the estrogen level fluctuating in this transition period. This causes prolonged menstrual cycles, absent menstrual cycles, bleeding between periods, hot flashes, frequent menstrual cycles or a change in the amount of blood flow during a cycle. Menstruation issues during perimenopause may be treated with oral contraceptives or replacement hormone pills. This transition stage will remain until menopause begins, which usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, according to MedlinePlus.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that affects women of reproductive age. This condition causes a woman to have a long menstrual cycle, irregular menstrual flow and ovarian cysts on her ovaries. Researchers aren't quite sure what causes polycystic ovary syndrome, although they have discovered a direct link in the disease and the overproduction of the luteinizing hormone. The overproduction of this hormone causes the ovaries to secrete more estrogen than usual. This leads to a disruption in ovulation, which causes the egg to remain in the ovary without being released. The sack that the egg is housed in is called a cyst. When these cysts do not open, they remain on the ovary, where they may become bigger. There are several treatment options available for women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Some women may be advised to start taking oral contraceptives to correct hormone levels, which in most cases restores normal menstruation. In other cases, the menstrual cycle may be corrected by using a medication such as metformin.
