Menorrhagia: Symptoms and Causes of Heavy Menstruation

Are you suffering from abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding during menstruation? It is common for women to experience heavy flow at the beginning of their period (usually the first two days). However, excessive bleeding for days is indicative of “Menorrhagia”, caused by underlying health issues.

Symptoms of Menorrhagia

According to CDC, one out of five women experience heavy menstrual bleeding. But most go on living their lives without realizing that they are suffering from menorrhagia. So how can you differentiate between normal periods and abnormal or heavy menses? 

Look for the following symptoms:

  • Bleeding through one or more sanitary pads/tampons or the need to change your menstrual hygiene product every hour. 
  • Need to wear two or more pads to prevent leaking.
  • Frequent change of pads/tampons/menstrual cups at night.
  • Prolonged bleeding for more than seven days. 
  • Heavy bleeding with large clots. 
  • Excessive pain in the lower abdomen during periods.
  • Extreme fatigue and frailty.   

Causes for Menorrhagia

The following underlying health conditions can lead to heavy menstrual bleeding:

  • Hormonal Issues – Hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), and likewise disorders disrupt the hormone levels of the body. It can lead to thickening of the uterine lining (women shed the uterine lining through menses every month), thus causing heavy periods.  
  • Abnormal Uterine Growths – Fibroids (benign tumorous growth) and polyps (a kind of growth in the uterine lining). 
  • Endometriosis – Growth of endometrial cells (cells lining the uterine wall) in the peritoneal cavity and outside the ovaries and uterus. 
  • Infection – PID or pelvic inflammatory disease, chlamydia, etc. 
  • IUD (intrauterine device) – IUD as a form of birth control might instigate heavy periods.
  • Certain types of Cancers – uterine, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer. 
  • Ectopic Pregnancy – The embryo implants itself inside the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. 

Other causes include;

  • Certain kinds of medications.
  • Bleeding disorders.
  • Liver and kidney diseases. 

Conclusion

If you are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above, then you need to see an OBGYN for menorrhagia. There is no need to worry, as early diagnosis can help you recover from the menstrual condition. So, reach out to the medical experts at Apollo Cradle (Sec 14, Gurgaon) today. As one of the top multispecialty hospitals, they have an experienced team of OBGYNs and advanced treatments to provide you with the required relief.  

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