Approximately 10 in 100 women experience extremely heavy periods, a condition known as menorrhagia. These periods have a variety of causes, some more concerning than others.
Expert OB/GYN Dr. Dean Hildahl and his caring team at North Naples Gynecology and Obstetrics in Naples, Florida, help you understand the reasons behind your abnormal bleeding, providing the best treatments for menorrhagia and other gynecological problems.
What constitutes an abnormally heavy period?
Your bleeding is considered abnormal when it:
Dr. Hildahl offers various treatments to help control bleeding and reduce the risk of anemia and iron deficiency.
Heavy periods have a variety of causes, including:
With endometriosis, lesions appear outside the uterus. This condition causes pain and infertility and often coincides indirectly with menorrhagia and blood clots.
Even stress can result in heavier-than-normal menstrual bleeding. When stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, throw your progesterone and estrogen hormones off balance, it may affect your normal menstrual cycle and bleeding.
Dr. Hildahl suggests ways to manage your stress, such as meditation and regular exercise.
Our team evaluates your heavy bleeding to decide the best course of action. During a typical period, you should be able to live your daily life with little interference.
When menorrhagia interrupts your regular sleep or daytime routine, it’s time to discuss the issue with Dr. Hildahl, who may recommend testing such as:
We view sound waves with a computer to check tissues, blood vessels, and internal organs for issues affecting blood flow.
These tests reveal signs of anemia, thyroid disease, or clotting problems.
We remove cells from your cervix to diagnose infection, inflammation, cancer, or precancerous conditions.
Tissue samples from your uterine lining may indicate cancer or other irregularities.
Dr. Hildahl reviews the results to pinpoint any issues that may cause your heavy bleeding.
Dr. Hildahl manages menorrhagia in a variety of ways, depending on the root cause.
Therapies include:
If your abnormal bleeding is due to polyps, fibroids, or other growths, the doctor may suggest surgical options, such as dilation and curettage (D&C) or fibroid removal (myomectomy).
Menopause represents one of the most significant changes in a woman’s life. Perimenopause generally occurs in the decade leading up to menopause. You often experience heavier than normal menstrual bleeding at this time, along with hot flashes and mood swings.
During perimenopause, your body releases higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to sustain normal ovulation. This process also produces more estrogen in your uterus lining, causing heavier, longer periods.
In addition to many of the same menorrhagia treatments used at other stages of life, Dr. Hildahl offers hormone replacement therapy (HRT), incorporating natural progesterone and other hormones to lessen blood flow.
If you’re concerned about unusually heavy menstrual bleeding or other OB/GYN issues or want to book a routine gynecological exam, schedule a consultation with Dr. Hildahl by phone or online today.
