Submitted by Brittany King, APN, WHNP, Advanced Women’s Healthcare
Many women experience heavy bleeding both during and in between menstrual periods. Bleeding is considered abnormally heavy if it lasts longer than seven days per period or is so heavy that you have to change your pad or tampon nearly every hour. Untreated heavy bleeding can not only lead to serious health issues like anemia, but it can keep you from participating in normal activities. Some women are afraid to even leave their house.
Last month, we discussed the causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding. The most common causes are fibroids, hormonal imbalances, endometriosis, polyps, and certain bleeding disorders. These conditions are not only quite common, they are also very treatable. The type of treatment you get will depend on the cause of your bleeding and how serious it is. Your doctor or healthcare provider will look at things such as your age, general health, and medical history; how well you respond to certain medicines, procedures, or therapies; and your wants and needs. For example, some women do not want to even have a period, and some just want to reduce the amount of bleeding. Some women want to make sure they can still have children in the future. Others want to lessen the pain more than they want to reduce the amount of bleeding. Some treatments are ongoing, and others are done one time. Following is a list of the more common treatments.
- Hormonal Methods: Hormone therapy is one of the leading treatments for dysfunctional vaginal bleeding. The therapy methods act to regulate the menstrual cycle, correct any hormonal imbalances, and stabilize the lining of the uterus. There are a variety of methods, which your registered nurse practitioner or physician will discuss with you. An IUD (intrauterine device) is a hormone-secreting device that may control bleeding because it has a progesterone additive that thins the endometrium, which in turn minimizes the blood loss. Injectable contraception (shots) such as Depo-Provera may be prescribed to change the uterus lining. Similar to an IUD, they have a hormone similar to progesterone, which also works to thin the uterine walls and reduce bleeding.
- NSAIDS: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen) help with pain management (i.e., cramping, headache) and are recommended to reduce the amount of blood loss. Women should begin taking the NSAIDS at the start of their period and continue through the cycle.
- Lysteda: Lysteda is a non-hormonal medication that promotes blood clotting. The medication is taken in tablet form and is known for reducing menstrual bleeding by a third. The medication is only taken during your period to regulate bleeding. It is important to note that the medication does not affect fertility, is not a form of birth control, and does not treat premenstrual symptoms.
- Surgical Methods: Surgical methods are also among the most common treatments for heavy bleeding. A D&C (dilation and curettage) is a procedure that includes scraping the lining of the uterus. The procedure may help diagnose or treat growths such as fibroids, polyps, or endometriosis. Endometrial ablation is a surgery that removes the lining of the uterus. This procedure is only appropriate for women that are done having children. If all other treatment options have been explored without success, a hysterectomy, which removes the uterus, may be considered.
Heavy bleeding is something that no one should have to endure. Discuss all of your options with your healthcare provider to decide which treatment is best for you. And get back to enjoying life!
Brittany King is an advanced practice nurse specializing in women’s health. She works alongside Dele Ogunleye, M.D., to provide a full range of obstetric and gynecologic services. You may contact Brittany or Dr. Ogunleye at Advanced Women’s Healthcare at 309-808-3068 or www.awhcare.com. The office is located at 2111 East Oakland Avenue (next to the Jewel-Osco Plaza).
Photo credit: Agnieszka Pastuszak-Maksim/iStock