Heavy Bleeding

When is bleeding considered heavy?

Typical blood loss during a menstrual period is 30-40 mL. However, since most feminine hygiene products absorb your period, those numbers aren’t necessarily meaningful. The recognizable signs of a clinically heavy period include:

• A period that lasts longer than seven days
• Having to change your tampon or pad after less than two hours
• Passing blood clots the size of a quarter or larger

If you have any of these symptoms, you should make an appointment at Ideal Gynecology, LLC, for diagnosis and treatment. When untreated, heavy periods aren’t just disruptive to your life; they can also contribute to anemia and are often a sign of a reproductive health problem.

What causes heavy bleeding?

Many health issues can cause heavy bleeding. For example, some of the common causes of abnormally heavy periods include:

• Fibroids
• Polyps
• Adenomyosis
• Endometriosis
• Hormonal imbalances
• Underactive thyroid
• Cervical cancer
• Uterine cancer
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Miscarriage

Your birth control can also cause heavy bleeding. For example, some intrauterine devices (IUDs) and birth control pills are known to trigger abnormal periods. Heavy and irregular periods are also a sign of perimenopause and PCOS.

How is the cause of heavy bleeding diagnosed?

The practitioners at Ideal Gynecology, LLC, provide thorough exams and testing to identify the issue causing your heavy periods. After reviewing your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle factors, your provider performs a physical exam, including a pelvic exam and Pap smear. 

Your provider also orders lab tests to check for signs of a hormone imbalance and other health issues such as anemia. They might also request additional testing, such as ultrasound, colposcopy, or hysteroscopy. 

What are the available treatments for heavy bleeding?

Your provider creates a customized treatment program to address the root cause of your symptoms, delivering lasting relief. 

You might benefit from a prescription for birth control. Oral contraceptives, and some other types of hormonal birth control, Progesterone IUD's such as Mirena or Kylena, regulate your estrogen and progesterone levels, which may relieve your symptoms. 

In other cases, your provider might recommend an in-office procedure such as a hysteroscopy with dilation & curettage. Ideal Gynecology, LLC, also offers Cerene Cryotherapy, Novasure and Minerva endometrial ablation procedure to reduce heavy periods. If your heavy bleeding is due to fibroid or other abnormal growths, your provider might recommend a minimally invasive myomectomy to remove the growths. 

Endometrial ablation and some other treatments for heavy bleeding can end your fertility, so make sure to discuss your plans for a family and other needs with your provider before deciding on the best treatment for you.

Don’t ignore heavy bleeding or let it interfere with your life. Call Ideal Gynecology, LLC, or schedule a consultation online today for expert treatment and relief.