Heavy Periods (menorrhagia) – Causes and Treatments
Definition:
More than 1 in 5 women suffer from heavy periods, defined by a loss of blood during the period that is particularly heavy.
Causes:
Heavy periods may be due to a hormone imbalance, infection, fibroids, polyps, and very rarely something more serious.
Investigation:
Investigation of heavy periods usually includes an examination, pelvic ultrasound, blood tests or occasionally exploratory surgery (hysteroscopy).
Treatment:
It used to be quite common to undergo a hysteroscopy D+C (“scrape”) or hysterectomy for heavy periods, but advances in medical knowledge have made both of these procedures less common. Heavy periods may now be treated using a variety of medications, the Mirena Intrauterine System IUS or a minor operation to destroy the lining of the womb, NOVASURE endometrial ablation.[/slider]
