Heavy Menstrual Flow - Tips To Deal With It!

Menorrhagia is the most common cause of Abnormal form of bleeding from the uterus. Everyone has different periods, some might not even notice that time of the month, while others might suffer from heavy bleeding, feeling miserable and a constant worry of leaks and stains leading to embarrassing situations. Periods are considered to be heavy if a pad or tampon is soaked in blood every hour.

Other symptoms of heavy bleeding could be:

1. Passing of large clots
2. Bleeding at night which requires to get up to change a pad
3. Any period that lasts for more than seven days

Causes:

• Fibroids
• Adenomyosis (thickening of uterine walls)
• PID
• Thickening of uterine lining or a polyp
• Use of blood thinners
• Intrauterine device
• Ovarian or a local cervical cause

If you are one of those women who suffer from heavy menstrual flow and are quite hassled by the same then worry not here are some tips to deal with your problem.

1. Keep a track of the periods as in when they start and the days with heavy bleeding. This helps you to track your next period and prepare yourself well for the same
2. Low iron levels can cause heavy bleeding, thus maintaining the iron levels is a good idea
3. Eating green leafy vegetables and taking multivitamins helps to maintain the iron levels
4. Eat fruit and food with starch to maintain a good sugar level
5. Hydrate yourself as it makes you feel less grumpy and miserable
6. In case of severe cramps take some pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen. Even a hot water bottle is a great way to chase the blues and the cramps
7. Get some sleep as one feels tired before the period and the days of the period. Listen to your body and don't push yourselves. Use extra protection in case you are worried about leakage
8. Try using a menstrual cup as they have a greater capacity as compared to tampons or pads. Also, one does not need to carry any supplies for the day
9. Don't feel shy or embarrassed to talk about your condition
10. You might need professional help and want to consult a doctor. Keeping a track of your period is good as doctors usually ask for the duration of the period and how heavy were they.

If you do not feel better with these tips a meeting with the doctor can predict the cause of the heavy flow and accordingly a medical treatment can be planned.

Medication for heavy bleeding might include any one or more of the following:

1. NSAIDS like mefenamic acid Tranexamic acid may be prescribed during periods to reduce the flow.
2. If not relieved then Hormonal therapy may be given.
3. Non-surgical option would include insertion of mirena (hormonal intrauterine device).
4. Your doctor may advise for a dilatation & curettage (scrapping of uterine lining )depending on the findings of ultrasound and considering the age.
5. It is usually combined with a hysteroscopy (putting a long scope with camera into the uterus to be able to see the entire uterus lining).
6. In some cases, endometrial ablation is the option in which the entire uterine lining is destroyed Hysterectomy (removal of uterus) is the option if nothing works.