Advances in Mental Health

While most women do not enjoy having their period, some women experience extreme menstrual bleeding which is a condition called mennorrhagia. This condition can be very uncomfortable for a woman to live with, and it may be caused by something that requires medical intervention to correct. If you are a woman who experiences extremely heavy menstrual cycles, it is important to make an appointment with your gynecologist so you can find out what is causing the problem. Some of the most common reasons that mennorrhagia occurs include:

Hormone Imbalance

Mennorrhagia in young women who have just begun menstruating and women who are approaching menopause is commonly due to hormone imbalances. The onset of menstruation and the decline of fertility and regular menstruation are a time where a woman's hormones can fluctuate wildly, which can directly impact menstrual flow. In many cases, hormones can be balanced by taking oral birth control pills prescribed by a gynecologist. If taking birth control pills for a few months does not help your heavy periods, make another appointment with your gynecologist to explore other treatment options. 

Polyps

Polyps are small, fragile abnormal tissue growths that are typically non-cancerous. In women, cervical polyps and endometrial polyps are known to cause very heavy periods. The exact cause of cervical and endometrial polyps is not known, but it is possible that estrogen levels may play a part in their growth. It is often recommended that women have these growths removed via outpatient surgery, which can help in managing extremely heavy menstrual cycles.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a broad term describing a severe infection of cervix, fallopian tubes, or the uterus. In many cases, PID is caused by a sexually transmitted disease that was not caught in an earlier stage and treated properly. Antibiotics can be used to treat PID, but depending on the severity of the infection, scar tissue may affect fertility.

The Use of an Intrauterine Device

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a type of birth control method that involves inserting a T-shaped device made of copper or containing hormones into the uterus. In most women, an IUD is a great form of long-term birth control. But for some women, an IUD can cause extremely long and heavy periods. If you experience a drastic negative change in the length and flow of your menstrual cycle after having an IUD inserted, it is recommended that you see your gynecologist to have it removed and then switch to a different form of birth control.