Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Is heavy menstrual bleeding affecting your life? With heavy menstrual bleeding, your period can cause enough blood loss and cramping that it can take over your everyday life.

If you have menstrual bleeding so heavy that you dread your period, contact Pearl Women’s Center. Ask a question, book online, or call our office in Portland at (503) 771-1883. We serve patients from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Northern California, and Alaska.

What is Heavy Menstrual Bleeding?

Heavy menstrual bleeding, also known as menorrhagia, is very common and can cause enough bleeding to soak through a sanitary napkin every hour for several hours or days in a row. About one third of women seek treatment for this condition.

What are the Symptoms of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding?

While every period is different, common symptoms of menorrhagia include:

• Needing to double the number of sanitary products for your protection
• Bleeding longer than 7 days
• Needing to change your sanitary protection during the night
• Passing large blood clots in your flow
• Soaking through sanitary protection every hour for several hours in a row

Heavy menstrual bleeding can make it difficult to work, exercise , and to be socially and sexually active. You also may feel weak or tired and have reduced or no energy. Menorrhagia most commonly affects women between the ages of 30 and 40.

Do I Have Menorrhagia?

Taking the self-assessment can help you determine if you have menorrhagia. Consider talking to one of our specialists if you answer yes to any of the following statements.

• I am concerned about how much I bleed during my period.
• I have to change my protection every 1-2 hours.
• I wear multiple forms of protection at the same time.
• I plan my everyday activities around my period.
• I have missed work, because of my period.
• My period has impacted my social, athletic and/or sexual activities.
• I have been told I have low iron levels or anemia.

Treatment Options

If you think you suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding, talk to one of our specialists about your symptoms and a treatment plan. Depending on the cause for your menorrhagia, your doctor may suggest that you first try medications. Alternative treatment options for heavy bleeding due to benign causes can include hormone therapy, hysteroscopy to look inside the uterine cavity for abnormal tissue, dilatation & curettage (D&C), and hysterectomy.