Why You Shouldn’t Ignore a Heavy Period at Any Age

No matter how old you are, you should tell your doctor about any heavy periods you experience. At Serrano OB-Gyn, we want to

Do you suffer from heavy periods that soak through tampons or sanitary pads and continue for hours and last for more than a week? Those are unusually heavy periods, which plague 1 in 5 women in the United States.

It’s tempting to ignore heavy periods and just go with the flow. However, heavy periods can signal a medical condition that requires attention. Often, treatment reduces monthly bleeding. 

No matter how old you are, you should tell your doctor about any heavy periods you experience. At Serrano OB-Gyn, we want to educate you about heavy periods and let you know you can do something about them.

What causes heavy bleeding?

Having menstrual periods that produce heavier-than-normal bleeding or that last an unusually long time is called menorrhagia. The condition can be accompanied by pain, swelling, or infertility. Menorrhagia can be caused by the following.

Adenomyosis

With this condition, tissue lining the inside of your uterus grows into your uterine wall. 

Endometrial polyps

These noncancerous growths in your uterus lining (the endometrium) can cause excessive bleeding.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis causes your uterine lining to grow outside of your uterus. Excess endometrial tissue bleeds during menstruation, leading to heavy periods.

Uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are muscle tissue growths within your uterus lining. Fibroids are typically benign, although they can cause excessive bleeding and long periods.

Bleeding disorders

These include platelet disorders, clotting disorders, leukemia, and hemophilia.

Cancer

Cancer of the reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, cervix) can cause unusually heavy and long menstrual flows.

Medications

Some drugs, such as blood thinners, can cause heavy periods.

IUD problems

An improperly placed IUD can lead to heavy periods.

Obesity

Extra fat can lead to the production of excess estrogen, which can cause heavy or irregular periods.

Ovarian cysts

Cysts are fluid-filled sacs in your ovaries that can burst and cause excessive bleeding.

Ovulation irregularities

Hormones control ovulation that releases an egg from your ovaries each month. If hormone levels are out of balance, you may not ovulate, and your uterine lining may build up, causing you to bleed excessively or unpredictably.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

This occurs when your ovaries or adrenal glands produce more male hormones than they should, which causes fluid-filled cysts to grow on your ovaries.

Thyroid disorders

An underactive thyroid can cause heavy bleeding. 

Treatment is available for heavy periods

If you’re experiencing heavy periods, no matter your age, help is available. Our caring providers at Serrano OB-Gyn can perform a pelvic exam and order tests to determine the cause of your excessive bleeding.

Once we determine why you’re having heavy periods, we work with you to develop a treatment plan. To find out more, call our office at 210-761-5309, or make an appointment using our online scheduling tool.

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