Menorrhagia is the name used for heavy and prolonged menstrual periods that impact and disrupt normal day-to-day activities. In fact, this is one of the most common gynecologic complaints. Today, it affects over 17% of women in India.

Learn more about menorrhagia, the use of various pad and some methods to reduce its impact can be helpful. Keep reading to learn more about this condition.

Menorrhagia Explained

During a women’s menstruation, the average blood loss is approximately 30 to 40 milliliters, which is equivalent to two or three tablespoons over four to five days. If someone is dealing with menorrhagia, the loss is typically more than 80 milliliters of blood in a single cycle, or twice what is considered normal or average.

Usually, women who go to the doctor do so because the impact of the bleeding on their day-to-day life is much more significant. Another definition is that the menstrual loss is more than the woman feels to be reasonably manageable.

In this case, the woman usually has a flow that lasts for more than seven days, and it requires her to change her feminine protective product every two hours or more. Also, there are usually blood clots that are bigger than a quarter in size, and some women have to deal with anemia because of the high volume of blood they lose.

Causes of Menorrhagia 

When a woman is dealing with menorrhagia, it occurs when a woman has a menstrual cycle, but it does not produce an egg, which causes a hormone imbalance. When a menstrual cycle occurs without ovulation, it is called anovulation. This is commonly seen in women who have just started menstruating or who are getting closer to menopause.

Several possible underlying issues can lead to this condition, too. This includes hormone disruption, ovarian dysfunction, uterine fibroids, uterine polyps, adenomyosis, IUD, PID, or pregnancy-related complications. It can also be caused by cancer.

Treatment Options for Menorrhagia

The type of treatment used for menorrhagia depends on the underlying condition a person has. One option is iron supplements, which treat anemia, and Lysteda or Tranexamic, which can reduce blood loss. Another potential treatment is oral contraceptives to help regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle and reduce bleeding quantity and duration. Doctors may prescribe oral progesterone to help reduce bleeding and treat hormonal imbalances or a hormonal IUD, which will thin the uterus’s lining and reduce cases of cramping and bleeding.

If a woman has a bleeding disorder, such as mild hemophilia or Willebrand’s disease, Stimate or Desmopressin nasal spray can help boost their levels of proteins that assist with blood clotting.

Like Advil or ibuprofen, women can also use NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories) for treating painful menstrual cramps. These may also help to reduce total blood loss. However, it is important to note that NSAIDs may increase the total risk of bleeding, so they should be used cautiously.

When it comes to dealing with menorrhagia, it is best to work with a doctor. They can provide more information about the condition and take the steps needed to help a woman finding relief. Knowing what to expect from the condition and the treatment options available can be quite beneficial for any woman. Keep the information here in mind to know what treatment options are available.