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Questions
to Ask about Excessive Menstrual Bleeding
Excessive menstrual bleeding is an important health issue for women. An estimated one in five women bleed so heavily during their periods they have to put their normal lives on hold. The medical term for this condition is "menorrhagia," meaning periods that are too heavy or that go on longer than the typical seven-day menstrual cycle. It is more common in women over 35 as hormonal levels shift during the perimenopausal phase. However, heavy menstrual bleeding can occur at any age.
Heavy menstrual bleeding is more than an inconvenience. It is also one of the most common causes of iron-related deficiency in women, and, if it's heavy enough, can even require hospitalization and blood transfusions.
If
you experience heavy bleeding during your periods, your
health care professional will conduct tests to rule
out underlying problems like fibroids, uterine cancer,
an infection, or endometriosis. If you don't have any
of these conditions, then your bleeding is likely caused
by hormonal imbalances.
There
are several treatments available for heavy menstrual
bleeding, ranging from over-the-counter nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory medications, oral contraceptives and
minimally invasive surgery that preserve the uterus,
to hysterectomy, that removes the uterus.
Talk
with your health care professional about heavy menstrual
bleeding. Here is a list of questions to ask at your
next office visit.
Do
you consider the amount of menstrual bleeding I'm
experiencing abnormal? -
What
tests do you need to conduct to diagnose symptoms,
and why are you doing them?
-
Is this heavy bleeding affecting my iron level?
What can you do about that?
-
Why
are you recommending this particular treatment option
for my heavy bleeding? If that doesn't work, what
do you recommend next?
-
What
are the disadvantages and risks associated with
each recommended treatment?
-
Even
if you find a problem like fibroids or endometriosis
causing my abnormal uterine bleeding, is it possible
to avoid a hysterectomy?
-
Am
I a candidate for endometrial ablation? What is
the success rate for the technique you use? What
kind of complications have you encountered?
For
more in-depth information about abnormal menstrual bleeding—diagnosis, treatment, test your knowledge quiz and
more—click
here.
This information
was produced with the assistance of an educational grant
from Cytyc Corporation.
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