What is menorrhagia, the condition that makes you bleed more than normal when you menstruate (and how to treat it to minimize its impact)
Many of us have no idea if our period is "normal" or not. This is not surprising, since not only are we all different, but stigma still prevents us from asking questions or talking about what happens to us each month with friends and family. But there is bleeding too much. In fact, about a quarter of women experience a clinical condition known as menorrhagia , also called heavy menstrual bleeding. This is when your period is abnormally heavy or prolonged.
Here's what you need to know about this condition.
When is bleeding heavier than normal?
Typically, during a "normal" period, between 70ml and 80ml of liquid is lost (the equivalent of around two double espressos). About 50% of the fluid lost is blood. But people with heavy menstrual bleeding can lose about 160 ml to 400 ml of fluid.
The most common symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding are:
Bleeding through pads or tampons every one to two hours,
A period that lasts more than seven days
Passage of blood clots larger than 2.5 cm
Are heavy periods bad for you?
As common as this condition is, most women who have it don't even know it. Many even assume that their period is "normal."
But this way of thinking can be a problem, as heavy menstrual bleeding can sometimes be a sign of an underlying problem, such as fibroids, endometriosis, a pelvic infection, or bleeding disorders.
A recently inserted intrauterine device (IUD) can also cause temporary heavy menstrual bleeding.
As a result, about two-thirds of women with heavy menstrual bleeding also develop long-term iron deficiency anemia .
When we menstruate, we lose red blood cells that are essential for carrying oxygen (an energy source) throughout the body. If you bleed heavily every month, you will lose more red blood cells than normal.
Anemia can take a while to develop, but it can cause a variety of symptoms that can have a major effect on your daily life.
While pale skin or lips are telltale physical signs, a person with anemia may also feel more tired than usual, irritable, dizzy, confused, and even depressed.
Anemia can also cause headaches, brain fog, increased heart rate, and even weight loss.
What can you do if you have heavy periods?
If you suspect you may have heavy menstrual bleeding, it's important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Diagnosis can take several months after your first visit to your GP, so it's important not to put it off.
Going to your appointment armed with information is always useful. For example, it's good to get an idea of your usual blood loss, either by using menstrual cups to measure volume or by tracking how many sanitary items you use each cycle.
Keeping a menstrual diary or using a tracking app can also be helpful, as well as knowing if the condition runs in families. If you haven't done this, your doctor will likely ask you to keep track of these things for a few months before diagnosing the condition.
Your doctor may prescribe certain medications that can lessen the effect of heavy menstrual bleeding, including the birth control pill or tranexamic acid (which controls bleeding and helps blood to clot). Surgical options may also be necessary if the condition is caused by another problem, such as fibroids.
If you think you may have anemia, it's equally important to carefully monitor your symptoms, especially how you feel before and after your period.
Many common conditions, such as anxiety, coughs, the flu, and food allergies, have overlapping symptoms with iron deficiency anemia, so it's important to ask your doctor for a blood test, as it will tell you if you have anemia or not.
If you're diagnosed with anemia, you may be prescribed iron supplements to help your body make new red blood cells. A healthy, balanced diet that contains iron-rich foods, such as dark meats, chickpeas, beans, green leafy vegetables, and nuts, can also help.
Why is it important to get help?
But as many women with heavy menstrual bleeding know, it's often too long before they get the help they need.
This can mean years of needless suffering, with this condition affecting everything from your personal life, school attendance, sports participation, and even your job. Those who develop anemia will experience even more effects on their physical and mental health as a result.
That is why there needs to be much more openness and education about women's health.
Not only does this mean talking more about what is and isn't normal when it comes to periods, it also means making sure health care providers are properly informed about the signs and symptoms of this condition, and the harm it can cause. can be derived from it.
Having more open discussion and awareness can help more women get the help and treatment they need sooner.
*Zannah Williams is Associate Professor of Ovarian Physiology, Research Leader in Ovarian Cryopreservation and Fertility Preservation, Rhino Fertility Project Leader, University of Oxford, UK.
*Tomi Adeniran has a PhD in Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, UK.
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