Menorrhagia - Medtick

Menorrhagia

What is it?

It is menstrual periods (female period) with abnormally heavy (losing 60ml – 80ml or more in each period, this should be a guide as females will know if it is light or heavy than usual) for  more than 7 days compared with 30 – 40ml for the average woman with ‘normal’ periods or prolonged bleeding  or severe menstrual bleeding for less than 7 days.

  • This condition increase with age.

Menstruation Cycle

  • In a normal cycle, the release of an egg from the ovaries (ovulation) stimulates the body’s production of progesterone (the female hormone most responsible for keeping periods regular and stabilise the endometrium lining – the womb lining).
  • When no egg is released, insufficient progesterone is produced, the endometrium lining – the womb lining breaks down which then leaves the vagina as menstrual bleeding.
  • Oestrogen ‘s job is to makes the endometrium thicker (and more likely to shed) and progesterone is to stabilise the endometrium and make it thinner.
  • Heavy bleeding occurs because , If ovulation (when the ovaries releases the egg and stimulate the production of progesterone which stabilises the endometrium lining and make it thinner) does not occur, the period can be delayed and insufficient progesterone is produced which allows the endometrial lining to grow thicker so when it does eventually shed it is heavier.
  • Lighter periods, or spotting between periods, may represent an endometrial lining that is unstable and leaking  because the lining may be too thick due to oestrogen levels and/or either because progesterone hormonal levels don’t adequately support it.

Cause

Medication

Symptoms

  • Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours?
  • Needing to use double sanitary protection to control ones menstrual flow?
  • Needing to wake up to change sanitary protection during the night?
  • Bleeding for longer than a week?
  • Passing blood clots larger than a coin?
  • Restricting daily activities due to heavy menstrual flow?
  • Painful periods and/or painful heavy periods?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Short of breath and/or breathing difficulties?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can lead to :

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Menorrhagia in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).