Menorrhagia is also known as heavy menstrual bleeding. It can lead to weakness, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and a fast heart rate. These symptoms are typically the result of anemia, which is often caused by excessive blood loss. If you experience heavy or prolonged bleeding during your menstrual periods, make an appointment with your gynecology physician so that the cause can be identified.
Endometrial Disease
The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. Endometrial diseases such as endometriosis can cause pelvic pain, severe menstrual cramps, gastrointestinal problems, and menorrhagia. Endometriosis is a disease that refers to the proliferation of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. Endometrial tissue should not grow outside of the uterus, and when it does, it can invade the bladder, bowel, ovaries, and Fallopian tubes. In some cases, it can cause infertility.
If you experience menorrhagia, your gynecologist may perform a pelvic examination and ultrasound to evaluate the status of your endometrium. If your test results are inconclusive, your doctor may schedule you for exploratory surgery so that he or she can visualize any abnormalities with your endometrial tissue. If you have endometriosis, your doctor may recommend laser surgery to remove the lesions or hormonal therapy, which will help shrink the lesions, while discouraging further growth.
Drugs and Supplements
Your medications and nutritional supplements can also cause heavy bleeding during your menstrual periods because they can affect the way your blood clots. Medications that can cause menorrhagia include aspirin, warfarin, ibuprofen, corticosteroids, and antidepressants.
Nutritional supplements that can lead to heavy menstrual bleeding include garlic, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, krill oil, and ginseng. If you take aspirin or prescription anticoagulants to treat cardiovascular disease, discontinuing your medication because of menorrhagia may not be an option.
Instead, talk to your doctor about lowering the dosage or switching to a different type of medication that may be less likely to decrease platelet aggregation. If you take nutritional supplements that are causing heavy bleeding during your periods, your gynecologist may recommend that you stop taking them, and instead, focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods.
If you suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding, make an appointment with your gynecology physician. After he or she examines you and performs the necessary diagnostic tests, a diagnosis can then be made. Once the underlying cause of menorrhagia has been uncovered, your healthcare provider will then implement a treatment plan to help manage heavy bleeding during your menstrual periods.