Menstrual periods are different for every woman, in both the duration and amount of bleeding, but excessively heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding can be a serious problem. Menstrual cycles that are heavy enough to interfere with a woman's daily functioning and have an adverse impact on life are known as menorrhagia, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Significance
The Mount Sinai Medical Center estimates that while nearly 30 percent of women have heavy menstrual periods, only about 10 percent of women have menorrhagia. Women most at risk for menorrhagia include obese women, women nearing menopause and young women who have just started menstruating within the last 12 to 18 months, says Mount Sinai.
Features
According to the Mayo Clinic, during a normal menstrual period, a woman loses approximately 2 to 3 tbsp. of blood. Menorrhagia involves losing nearly 5 1/2 tbsp. or more. The Mayo Clinic lists other symptoms of menorrhagia such as menstrual flow that includes large blood clots, a flow so heavy that it interferes with normal functioning, soaking through one or more pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours and the need to change sanitary products during the night.
Drug Treatment
Heavy menstrual cycles and menorrhagia can cause anemia or lowered iron levels, so iron supplements may be prescribed to prevent or treat anemia. Oral contraceptives or oral progesterone help to regulate the menstrual cycle, correct any hormone imbalances and treat heavy menstrual flow, says the Mayo Clinic. Another hormonal option is the intrauterine device Mirena, which releases a progestin. This progestin helps reduce the menstrual blood flow. Ibuprofen drugs like Advil or Motrin, also known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, can also be used to reduce menstrual flow.
Surgical Treatment
If drug therapies do not work or do not reduce the menstrual flow enough, surgical treatments are an option. Dilation and curretage, or D and C, is a procedure that scrapes the uterine lining to reduce menstrual blood flow, according to the Mayo Clinic. This procedure is often successful, but sometimes repeated D and C procedures are necessary if heavy bleeding returns. Endometrial ablation is a procedure that permanently destroys the uterine lining, resulting in little to no menstrual flow. This procedure reduces the likelihood of pregnancy, so for women who want to become pregnant, this procedure may not be an option. A hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus, is a more drastic procedure and results in eliminating menstrual periods altogether.
Other Treatments
If heavy menstrual cycles are caused by an underlying medical condition like a pelvic infection, blood-clotting disorder, liver or thyroid disease or ovarian cysts, treating the underlying condition should reduce menstrual flow, says the Mount Sinai Medical Center. The Mayo Clinic recommends avoiding using aspirin with heavy menstrual periods, since aspirin interferes with the blood's ability to clot.
