Heavy menstrual flow or excessive bleeding is medically known as hypermenorrhea or menorrhagia. If you have been menstruating regularly with a healthy volume and experienced a sudden change in menses volume (excess bleeding), there is most likely an underlying cause that may require medical attention. The bleeding may be so heavy that you are left debilitated and unable to carry out daily activities, accompanied with severe cramping, you must talk to your doctor.
What is considered excessive bleeding?
Excessive bleeding is usually caused by abnormalities/disorders within the reproductive system and/or the endocrine system. By definition, if the bleeding lasts for more than 7 days and heavy blood flow of more than 80ml, then it is considered Menorrhagia. Anything that deviates from your normal duration, frequency and volume of the menses will be considered abnormal and will require further assessment from your doctor.
Possible causes of Menorrhagia
- Endocrine Imbalance: An excessive or heavy menses flow usually indicates that it was the shedding of an abnormally thick endometrium lining. This can be caused by an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone. However, a proper diagnosis of the underlying cause must be made before recommending treatment, as several factors and underlying conditions can cause endocrine imbalances in women including lifestyle, diet, bodyweight, PCOS, a dysfunctional thyroid, stress etc. Management is treatment of the underlying cause and then hormonal supplementation therapy.
- Endometrial Polyps or Uterine Polyps can cause excessive bleeding when the blood vessels of the polyps themselves bleed during menses, thus causing an increased amount of blood flow. Sometimes polyps will be gone over time, and no management is required, however chronic polyps will be surgically removed using Hysteroscopy.
- Uterine Fibroids, especially those that protrude into the uterine cavity can cause excessive bleeding due to more blood vessels present and exposure to the endometrium. Surgical intervention for benign fibroids is done via Hysteroscopy and/or 3D-Laparoscopy.
- Adenomyosis can cause excessive and heavy menses flow due to the presence of multiple benign lesions within the uterine myoma wall. This is often accompanied with severe menstrual cramps and can affect fertility and cause recurrent miscarriage. Treatment is done surgically via 3D-Laparoscopy to remove each benign lesions and requires an experienced surgeon.
- Endometriosis is where the inner lining of the endometrium (endometrial tissue) is now growing outside the uterus, in places such as the pelvis, ovaries, fallopian tubes. Symptoms can cause pelvic pain, heavy menses flows, pain during bowel movements and pain during intercourse. Treatment for endometriosis is done using 3D-Laparoscopy to remove the displaced endometrial tissues and lesions,
- Endometrial, cervical, and uterine cancer is another rare but probable cause for heavy menses flow. A proper diagnosis and biopsy must be conducted to recommend treatment, and women in post-menopausal stage are at high risk of this.
- STIs and STDs such as Gonorrhea, Chlamydia are transmitted via sexual intercourse and can cause irregular periods and excessive menses bleeding. Visit your doctor for screening and the relevant management methods.
Heavy menstrual bleeding sometimes is not cause for worry, but diagnosis and a check-up does no harm, and gives you much more assurance. Contact us for more information and arrange an online consultation with our doctors.
Antai Hospital’s Commitment
Antai Hospital’s full refund policy for the miscarriage prevention treatments we provide should already be the best guarantee for a healthy pregnancy. Patients should rest assured, can and should go about their everyday life, focusing their diet on vegetables, beans, celery, and other fiber-rich foods. Besides that, an active lifestyle of yoga and swimming should also be incorporated to help relieve stress and increase blood circulation, which is beneficial for the fetus’s development and the mother’s health. With our assurance, a healthy lifestyle, and peace of mind, you can go through a healthy pregnancy with no complications.
Recurrent miscarriages are no doubt a heavy blow to the patient’s physical and mental health. All we can do is to help ease the burden and decrease your trauma, to slowly help you overcome the anxiety with the love and care that we provide at Antai Hospital.
Trust in Antai Hospital and trust in yourself, your pregnancy is our priority.
