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How Do I Deal With Heavy
Menstruation? - by Vanessa Youngstrom
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Menorrhagia is a condition in
which there is heavy menstruation. This is a symptom of an
underlying problem but not the problem itself. There can
be many causes of excessive bleeding for women. A
gynecologist, physician who specializes in the
reproductive health of women, should be the one to
diagnose the problem.
Diagnosis of irregular menstruation relies on several
methods.
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The doctor will take a
comprehensive history that will include questions such as: the
age she started her period (menarche), how long the period
lasts (days), how many days there are between periods, any
recent changes in her normal monthly schedule, if she is
sexually active, the date of the last pelvic exam, if she is
pregnant or was recently pregnant, and if she is on birth
control pills and what kind.
The doctor may also ask the patient to keep a calendar of her
bleeding history to keep track of any pain during the month,
length of her periods, bleeding between periods and how many
days are between periods. Patients are also asked to rate the
amount of flow on the days of her period.
Diagnostic tests also include ultrasounds that can be done in
the office to visualize fibroids or uterine wall changes.
Doctors can also inject fluid into the uterus and perform an
ultrasound procedure called a sonohysterogram. This test will
help to evaluate the uterine walls and any structural
abnormalities.
Some common causes of heavy menstruation include uterine
fibroids, endometrial hyperplasia, hormonal imbalances and
polyp growths on the walls of the uterus. Non-typical causes
are Von Willebrand disease which is an inherited coagulation
disorder, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), liver cirrhosis,
lupus, Intrauterine Device (IUD) birth control and diabetes.
Another non-typical cause of heavy menstruation is a Vitamin K
deficiency. Vitamin K will cause bleeding disorders and has
been associated with abnormal uterine bleeding.
There are several reasons why patients may be deficient in
Vitamin K that includes using anticoagulants, salicylates,
long-term antibiotics, metabolic diseases, or a large intake
of Vitamin K antagonists such as Vitamin E or Vitamin A. One
of the symptoms of hypothyroidism is heavy menstruation. Women
who have hypothyroidism, after treatment, lose the problem of
heavy bleeding.
Treatment for irregular menstruation is based on the cause.
After a thorough exam, history and testing the doctor can give
the patient a accurate diagnosis and treatment plan based on
current medical practice. The goal of treatment is to decrease
the heavy menstruation and increase the patient’s comfort.
Vanessa Youngstrom, a nurse practitioner, enjoys writing and
educating on health and wellness topics. You’ll find more
articles at http://www.PathToYourHealth.com
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