Content
Menstrual bleeding is a situation characterized by heavy and heavy bleeding during menstruation and that can last for more than 7 days, and can also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain in the intimate area, abdominal swelling and tiredness, for example.
Excessive menstrual bleeding, scientifically called menorrhagia, can be dangerous because it causes a marked decrease in iron and the appearance of anemia, reducing the amount of oxygen in the body. In addition, in some cases menstrual bleeding can be a sign of a more serious illness, such as cancer, for example, and, therefore, it is important to consult the gynecologist for an evaluation and tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Symptoms of menstrual bleeding
The main symptom of menstrual bleeding is excessive blood loss that lasts more than 7 days. However, other symptoms may arise in addition to the bleeding, such as:
- Pain in the intimate region;
- Presence of clots during menstruation;
- Abdominal swelling;
- Easy tiredness;
- There may be a fever.
Furthermore, as the blood loss is very large, there is, consequently, a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin and iron, which can lead to the appearance of signs and symptoms of anemia, such as dizziness, pallor, headache, falling of hair and lack of appetite, for example. Learn to recognize the symptoms of anemia.
Thus, if the woman has excessive bleeding for more than 7 days, it is important to consult the gynecologist so that an evaluation is made and tests are carried out to identify the cause of menstrual bleeding and, thus, start the appropriate treatment. See which exams are indicated by the gynecologist.
Main causes
There are several causes of menstrual bleeding and although it can happen to any woman, it is more frequent in obese women, who are entering menopause or who have a family history of menstrual bleeding.
The main causes of menstrual bleeding are:
- Changes in the uterus, such as myoma, polyps, adenomyosis and cancer;
- Changes in blood clotting;
- Hormonal problems, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism or lack of ovulation;
- Infection in the uterus, urinary tract or bladder;
- Use of oral contraceptives;
- Pregnancy or miscarriage.
When it is not possible to identify the cause of excessive bleeding, it can be considered that the woman suffers from dysfunctional uterine bleeding, in which there is no specific cause but that leads to uncontrolled growth of the lining of the uterus, causing bleeding and increasing the chances of develop endometrial cancer.
Treatment for menstrual bleeding
Treatment for menstrual bleeding depends on the cause of the excessive bleeding. Thus, in cases related to the production of hormones, usually the remedies to stop menstrual bleeding are oral contraceptives.
However, when bleeding occurs due to infection, the use of antibiotics may be indicated by the doctor. In more severe cases, such as uterine fibroids or cancer, hysterectomy surgery may be indicated to remove part or all of the uterus. Understand how the treatment is done for menstrual bleeding.