My heavy menses

I have been having a heavy menstrual flow for the past few weeks. Kindly let me know what to do about this.

Ifeoma (by SMS)

Menorrhagia is menstrual bleeding that lasts more than 7 days. It can also be bleeding that is very heavy. How do you know if you have heavy bleeding? If you need to change your tampon or pad after less than 2 hours or you pass large clots. Doctors typically define heavy menstrual bleeding as blood that soaks through one pad or tampon once an hour for several hours in a row.

If this happens, or a person feels weak or dizzy, or becomes unconscious, the affected person should go for an emergency treatment in a nearby hospital. The exact treatment will depend on a person’s situation. Emergency Room doctors can administer fluids to stabilize a person. They may also give medications and, in some cases, perform a medical procedure to stop the bleeding. Menorrhagia can be caused by several factors such as; growths or tumors of the uterus that are not cancer; these can be called uterine fibroids or polyps, cancer of the uterus or cervix, certain types of birth control—for example, an intrauterine device (IUD).

Other causes include; hormone-related problems, other illnesses or bleeding disorders such as von Willebrand disease (VWD) or platelet function disorder and nonbleeding-related disorders such as liver, kidney, or thyroid disease; pelvic inflammatory disease; and cancer. In addition, certain drugs, such as aspirin, can cause increased bleeding.

Doctors have not been able to find the cause in half of all women who have this problem. If you have bleeding such as this, and your gynecologist has not found any problems during your routine visit, you should be tested for a bleeding disorder. Treatments for heavy periods can depend on the cause. Birth control pills, intrauterine contraception (IUC), and hormone therapy can help reduce the amount of bleeding.

In some cases, other medications or surgery may be necessary. Treatment may include medications to slow the bleeding, fluids, and, in some cases, blood transfusion. If the amount of bleeding is not a medical emergency but a person regularly experiences heavy periods or menorrhagia, you may need to see a medical specialist (Gynecologist) for a thorough examination and treatment.