Health Center - Reproductive and Pelvic Health
No matter your age, the health of your reproductive and urinary organs—your pelvic organs—is important. If something goes wrong "down there," it affects your overall health and quality of life. Get answers to all of your most pressing questions and put an end to embarrassing symptoms.
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Treatment Options for Heavy Monthly Bleeding
| Lifestyle Options | |
| Ice packs | Put an ice pack on your abdomen for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day when bleeding is especially heavy. |
| Vitamins | Try vitamin C supplements to help your body absorb iron and possibly strengthen blood vessels. |
| Iron | Some research suggests low iron levels can increase menstrual bleeding and that supplementing with the mineral can reduce menstrual bleeding. |
| Nonhormonal Medical Options | |
| Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) | These drugs, which include naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Motrin) and the prescription NSAIDs diclofenac (Cataflam) and mefenamic acid (Ponstel), work by reducing levels of prostaglandins, hormone-like chemicals that interfere with blood clotting. NSAIDs are not specifically approved for treating heavy monthly bleeding but may be prescribed as an "off-label" treatment. |
| Tranexamic acid tablets | Tranexamic acid (Lysteda) is the only FDA-approved prescription medicine specifically designed to treat heavy monthly bleeding without hormones. Women take it in pill form for up to five days a month during their periods. In clinical trials, women experienced lighter periods every month, and the medication started working as early as their first cycle. |
| Hormonal Medical Options | |
| Intrauterine system | The levonorgestrel intrauterine system (Mirena) is FDA-approved to treat heavy monthly bleeding in women who use intrauterine contraception for birth control. The IUD may be kept in place for up to five years, slowly releasing a low dose of the progestin hormone levonorgestrel into the uterus. In some women, it may take three months before heavy bleeding is reduced and there can be some light bleeding between periods, particularly in the first three months. IUDs are not recommended for all women, so talk to your health care provider. |
| Progestin | Progestin is the most-prescribed medication for heavy menstrual bleeding. The hormonal medicine works by reducing the effects of estrogen in your body and slowing growth of the uterine lining. But side effects, including weight gain, headaches, swelling and depression, lead many women to quit using this option. Progestin is not specifically approved for treating heavy monthly bleeding but may be prescribed as an "off-label" treatment. |
| Oral contraceptives | Oral contraceptives can reduce menstrual bleeding by using hormones to prevent ovulation and thin the endometrium. One study compared oral contraceptives to the NSAIDs mefenamic acid, naproxen and danazol and found all four worked just as well to reduce bleeding. Depending on the type of oral contraceptive and the individual, improvement can take up to three months. Oral contraceptives are not specifically approved for treating heavy monthly bleeding but may be prescribed as an "off-label" treatment. |
| Danazol | Danazol is a form of the male hormone testosterone that blocks the action of estrogen in your body. It causes your period to stop in about four to six weeks but can have side effects, including acne, reduced breast size, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and irritability. Danazol is not specifically approved for treating heavy monthly bleeding but may be prescribed as an "off-label" treatment. |
| Minimally Invasive Surgical Options | |
| Endometrial ablation | In this procedure, the lining of the uterus is destroyed via freezing, electricity, microwaves, radiofrequency (radio waves) or hot water. Ablation is performed on an outpatient basis or in a doctor's office with a mild anesthetic, and recovery is quick. It enables a woman to keep her uterus and, in many instances, may halt her periods altogether. If you choose this treatment option, you should be sure that you do not plan to have any more children. Pregnancy following ablation can be dangerous, so you must continue using contraception. |
| Invasive Surgical Options | |
| Hysterectomy | Seventy-five to 80 percent of women with heavy menstrual bleeding do not need a hysterectomy, yet some women still opt for this surgical procedure, which may be recommended as a treatment option. While very effective in ending uterine bleeding (without a uterus, your periods stop), hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure that requires hospitalization and weeks of recuperation. Additionally, hysterectomy is associated with a number of complications, with infection being the most common. Ask your health care professional to fully explain the surgery and potential benefits and risks to you. Though some women may prefer hysterectomy to other surgical options, be sure you understand all your options before making a choice. |
we asked, you answered
Nearly 2,000 women completed a survey about how heavy monthly bleeding, a condition that affects millions of women. Read the survey results—what they shared may surprise you.
