What is menorrhagia?
Menorrhagia is the medical term used to describe abnormal menstrual bleeding. Many women suffer from menorrhagia, which can be disruptive to their daily lives. If your abnormal bleeding is preventing you from participating in your everyday activities, it’s time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Berg, the women’s health expert at Arcadia Ob/Gyn.
What are the symptoms of menorrhagia?
While many women experience heavy menstruation, not all have menorrhagia. Symptoms that may indicate menorrhagia include:
- Soaking through a menstrual pad or tampon every hour for several hours in a row
- Needing to use more than one menstrual pad to prevent leaking while you sleep
- Bleeding longer than a week
- You have blood clots that are larger than a quarter
- Your bleeding makes it impossible to engage in your daily life
Menorrhagia can also cause you to develop signs of anemia, such as fatigue, sensitivity to cold, and difficulty concentrating, due to excessive blood loss.
What causes menorrhagia?
There are many gynecological conditions that lead to menorrhagia. Some of the most common include:
- Fibroids
- Abnormalities with ovulation
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Polyps
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Endometriosis
- Adenomyosis
- Cancer
- Intrauterine device
You may also experience changes in menstrual bleeding during adolescence or perimenopause, which is the transitional period in which your hormones begin to fluctuate before you officially reach menopause.
What can I expect during an evaluation for menorrhagia?
Dr. Berg conducts comprehensive examinations when you visit Arcadia Ob/Gyn with concerns about heavy menstrual bleeding. In addition to reviewing your symptoms and gynecological history, he also conducts a physical and pelvic exam.
Arcadia Ob/Gyn features many diagnostic tools, so Dr. Berg can perform additional testing as needed, such as an ultrasound, to help identify the underlying cause of your menorrhagia.
What are the treatments for menorrhagia?
Treatment for your menorrhagia depends on the underlying cause and the severity of your symptoms. Your treatment may include:
- Hormonal birth control
- Over-the-counter pain medication
- Disease-specific surgical procedure
Dr. Berg also offers NovaSure®, which is a form of endometrial ablation that treats menorrhagia. During the procedure, Dr. Berg inserts a wand into your uterus that emits radiofrequency energy that destroys your endometrial tissue. This treatment is only recommended if you have no future pregnancy plans.
Heavy menstrual bleeding is common and can be disruptive to your life. For an effective treatment plan from a women’s health expert, contact Arcadia Ob/Gyn by phone or online today.
