Why am I experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding?
In some cases, the cause of heavy menstrual bleeding is difficult to determine. Our team at Shenandoah Women’s Health will perform a physical exam and ask you detailed questions about your symptoms to diagnose the cause. Some common causes include:
- Hormone Imbalance
- Issues with the ovaries
- Benign Tumors of the Uterus (uterine fibroids)
- IUDs: Heavy bleeding being a common side effect
- Pregnancy Complications
- Cancer: Specifically uterine and cervical cancer
- Certain medications
When should I see a medical professional?
Outside of your annual woman-well health exams, contact us immediately if you notice:
- Vaginal bleeding that soaks through at least one pad or tampon per hour for over two hours
- Bleeding that occurs between periods or otherwise irregular vaginal bleeding
- Vaginal bleeding taking place after menopause
How is heavy menstrual bleeding treated?
At Shenandoah Women’s Healthcare, we elect to treat menstrual bleeding with a proven, treatment procedure called NovaSureⓇ Endometrial Ablation. It’s a safe, simple and effective procedure that doesn’t require any pretreatment and can be done at any time during your cycle in the SWHC office. It takes less than five minutes and is designed to burn your uterine lining, which usually is the source of abnormal menstrual bleeding.
There are four steps to the procedure:
- Step 1: Opening your cervix and insert a thin wand into your uterus. It opens up into a triangle- shaped net once inside.
- Step 2: The netting expands, fitting to the size and shape of your uterus.
- Step 3: The device gives off radiofrequency energy for about 90 seconds.
- Step 4: The netting collapses back into the wand and everything is removed from your uterus.
According to multicenter trials, for nine out of 10 women, their heavy periods are dramatically reduced or stopped altogether after this procedure.
Can I take hormones to prevent heavy menstrual bleeding?
If hormonal changes are causing your heavy menstrual bleeding, which is very common, you can’t necessarily prevent that. However, if your hormonal changes are the result of being overweight, then losing weight can help. Your weight directly impacts your hormone production. Making good lifestyle choices and maintaining a healthy weight can help decrease heavy menstrual bleeding.