Common causes of heavy periods

Heavy periods (menorrhagia) is considered abnormal when the bleeding causes distress. One-third of women in the United States will develop heavy periods at some time in their lives. Menorrhagia can become so severe that it causes iron-deficiency anemia and impairs a womans quality of life causing her to become weak and fatigued. Treatment commonly leads to hysterectomy without knowing the cause.

Common causes of heavy periods and how to manage them:

Excess uterine tissue:

Excess tissue in the uterus is one of the most common causes of heavy periods. The excess tissue forms growths that are usually non-cancerous (benign). Often there are no symptoms when you develop excess uterine tissue, but when there are, they include heavy periods, bleeding between periods and discomfort.

There are two categories of excess uterine tissue. Polyps are soft, small growths that develop in the lining of the endometrium and Myomas are growths that develop in the muscle layer of the uterus. Management consists of exams to watch growth, NSAIDS for pain and removal of growth if they become enlarged and decrease your quality of life.

Hormonal imbalance:

Hormonal imbalance can happen when the endometrium (lining of the uterus) becomes too thick and then sheds heavily during your period. This is caused by an imbalance of progesterone and estrogen, the two hormones related to reproduction.

Management with birth control pills that contain estrogen or the hormones, estrogen and progesterone are given to balance the hormones and regulate your period.

Uterine fibroids:

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths common in women. Approximetly one in five women develop uterine fibroids during their childbearing years and nearly one-half by the age of 50. Uterine fibroids are rare in women under 20 years old.

Uterine fibroids start out small. They may stay small or may grow to fill the entire uterus and weigh several pounds. Common symptoms include heavy periods, pain and cramping in the abdominal area, increased need to urinate and abdominal pressure.

Management includes monitoring fibroids while treating with either birth control pills or an IUD

(intrauterine device). The estrogen and progesterone in the pills and IUD usually cause the bleeding to decrease. If hormone replacement therapy doesn't decrease bleeding or the fibroids grow, surgery, including a hysterectomy may be needed.

There are many causes for heavy periods. If you develop heavy periods at any time in your life, you should see your health care provider for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Heavy periods, left untreated, can cause anemia, fatigue and anxiety.