Dr. Harini Radhakrishnan

Menorrhagia refers to very heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding or periods in women. The bleeding is abnormal in nature, and if this continues for a long time, a hysterectomy surgery needs to be carried out to solve the problem.

Bleeding during the night time and passage of large blood clots during menstruation are other symptoms of Menorrhagia.

Causes:

The various possible causes of this kind of heavy menstrual bleeding are:

1. Hormonal imbalance, specifically of estrogen and progesterone is a common cause, which is more likely in adolescents and in women nearing menopause. Dysfunction in the ovaries also causes hormonal imbalance.

2. Non-cancerous tumors or fibroids may also be responsible for menorrhagia.

3. Women suffering from a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy are likely to experience heavy menstrual bleeding.

4. Using blood thinners may lead to menorrhagia.

5. An intrauterine device used for birth control measures can cause disturbance and may lead to heavy menstruation.

6. A condition known as adenomyosis, where the glands in the uterus lining get embedded in the walls of the uterus, also causes menorrhagia.

7. Pelvic inflammatory diseases, infection in the uterus or fallopian tubes are other common causes.

8. Heavy bleeding may occur in patients with ovarian or cervical cancer.

9. Diseases of the kidney, liver or thyroid diseases may also cause menorrhagia.

Diagnostic Tests:

Several tests and methods are carried out for the diagnosis of menorrhagia. They are:

1. A general physical examination.

2. Bleeding diary of the woman.

3. Blood tests to detect anemia or thyroid.

4. Pap Smear for the evaluation of cervical inflammation, infections or cancer

5. Ultrasound for evaluation of pelvic organs like uterus, ovaries and pelvis.

6. Hysteroscopy, where a camera is inserted into the uterus to observe the linings.

7. Sonohysterography, where a fluid gets instilled into the uterus along with an ultrasound test.

Treatment:

Certain drugs are used to treat menorrhagia. They include:

1. Iron supplements for treating anemia.

2. NSAIDS or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for treating and reducing blood loss.

3. Tranexamic acid is used for reducing menstrual bleeding.

4. Several oral contraceptives are used for regulation of the menstrual cycle. Oral progesterone corrects hormonal imbalance and reduces bleeding.

Surgical procedures for treatment of menorrhagia include:

1. Hysteroscopy, dilation and curettage, where uterus lining is scraped and evaluated.

2. Uterine artery embolization treats menorrhagia with fibroids.

3. Focused ultrasound ablation enables the killing of the fibroid tissue.

4. Myomectomy, endometrial ablation and endometrial resection are other surgical techniques.

5. Hysterectomy surgery is the penultimate solution, where the uterus, cervix or ovaries are completely removed.

Menorrhagia is characterized by abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding in women. This is quite unhealthy and proper measures must be taken for curing the heavy bleeding.

Mentioned throughout history as a curse, leprosy was considered as a punishment of sins by many cultures as it was widespread and common. However, modern science demystified it and de-stigmatized it to the point where the occurrence of leprosy within the population has gone down to very low levels, although it is still prevalent among certain populations.

Prevention of leprosy: Leprosy is caused by the bacterial infection of Mycobacterium leprae and it is classified into multiple types. Leprosy is communicable through contact with common objects or a person by infected droplets within their nose. It primarily affects mucous membranes and the skin and the nerves on the hands, feet, and in extreme cases may cause disfigurement as well. There are no specific ways to prevent leprosy as no specific correlation between transmission and development has been found so far. Leprosy can happen through one time contact or through contact over extended period of time within the same household. Thus preventive measures will primarily include the following:

1. Regular checkups by going to the doctor
2. Ensuring that surfaces are kept clean if you share a household with a leprosy patient
3. Skin biopsies at regular intervals just to check if you may have contracted the bacteria
4. If a rash has developed, then it is urgent that you visit the doctor. Earlier the leprosy is detected, quickly it can treated and resolved

Incidences of leprosy have reduced over the last few decades due to improvements in medicine and early detection. This has allowed people to nip the problem in the bud and does not allow it to spread within their bodies or to other people.

Treatment of leprosy: The primary weapon that modern medicine has against leprosy is known as MDT or multidrug therapy. Multidrug therapy is the combination of multiple drugs, which attack the various aspects of leprosy, such as skin problems, nerve damage, loss of sensation, deterioration of skin conditions etc. This is the proven way to not only reduce symptoms, but also cure the problems in the long run.

Some of the drugs in the MDT used are as follows:

1. Rifampicin and dapsone
2. Rifampicin and clofazimine and dapsone
3. Rifampicin, minocycline and ofloxacin

However, the combination will depend on the type of leprosy the person is affected with, such as paucibacillary leprosy or multibacillary leprosy and thus can only be prescribed by the doctor after thorough and detailed examination.

Homeopathy is a complementary system of healing that believes in ‘like cures like’. But can it cure infertility? Read on to know more about the role of homeopathy in infertility. Homeopathy uses the same principle of ‘like cures like’ to treat infertility as well.

In scientific terms, infertility is defined as the inability to conceive despite having regular unprotected sex for one or more than one year . The cause for infertility can be either present in the male or female partner like low sperm counts in men or poor quality of sperm and hormonal disturbances, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, fibroids etc. in women.

Homeopathy works in infertility by:

1. Regulating ovulation in women
2. Increasing sperm count and improving sperm mobility in men
3. Removing emotional blockages
4. Reducing stress
5. Treating depression and anxiety

Homoeopathy is especially useful in curing infertility due to low sperm count and sperm motility. A homoeopath can identify the cause of your infertility by asking you specific questions related to your: 

1. Age
2. Duration of trying to conceive
3. Nicotine, alcohol, coffee or tea consumption
4. Genital diseases including inflammation, surgery and trauma
5. Any other conditions you may suffer from, including hereditary conditions
6. Any active infection in the body
7. Exposure to toxins such as chemicals, radiation, heat or noise
8. Stress levels

Homoeopathic remedies for infertility
If you want a sure cure for infertility, visit a reputed homoeopath who will match the right medicine with your constitution and symptoms. However, we have a list of common remedies for the condition for your information:
Sepia

• This is a very powerful uterine remedy
• It is very useful in cases where the woman miscarries repeatedly
• Useful in treating uterine prolapse
• Treats late and scanty periods, irregular periods, as well as early and profuse bleeding
• Treats irregular or absent ovulation
• Treats low sex drive in men

Sabina

• Treats women who have recurrent miscarriages
• Treats inflammation of ovaries and uterus after an abortion

Silica

• Boosts the immune system and improves chances of conception

Aurum

• Treats infertility caused by depression, feelings of self-hatred and worthlessness
• Treats high blood pressure
• Treats enlarged and prolapsed uterus

Phosphorus

• Treats infertility due to uterine polyps
• Infertility due to anxiety and stress

X-Ray

• Treats infertility in males due to low sperm counts
• It helps in improving the quality of sperms 

  If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a homeopath.