Menorrhagia

What Is Menorrhagia?

Heavy bleeding during periods is very common amongst women. However, when it crosses the certain level of bleeding and results in severe blood loss, it is called menorrhagia. Most of the heavy bleeding can’t be termed as menorrhagia.

What Are The Symptoms Of Menorrhagia?

You can be suffering from Menorrhagia if you experience any or many of the following symptoms of menorrhagia:

• Soaking through tampons or sanitary pads every hour (for several consecutive hours)
• Bleeding lasting more than a week
• Passing larger than a quarter blood clots
• Needing to wake up to change sanitary napkins during the night or use double sanitary protection to avoid leakage
• Finding it difficult to perform daily activities due to heavy bleeding
• Symptoms of anemia, such as fatigue, tiredness, or shortness of breath
• Bleeding in between periods, bleeding after menopause

What Are The Causes Of Menorrhagia?

Some of the common causes of menorrhagia are:

• Hormonal imbalance: Can be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance obesity, and thyroid problems.
• Dysfunction of the ovaries: e.g. ovaries not releasing eggs during ovulation
• Uterine polyps: Benign, small growth on the lining of the uterus
• Uterine fibroids: Non-malignant fibroids can also cause heavy bleeding.   
• Intrauterine device (IUD): A device often used for birth control, it can cause heavy bleeding
• Adenomyosis: It causes painful periods and heavy bleeding when the glands from the endometrium get embedded in the uterine muscle.
• Cancer: Uterine cancer or cervical cancer can be the cause of excessive menstrual bleeding, especially in postmenopausal women.
• Pregnancy complications: e.g. miscarriage, unusual location of the placenta, like placenta previa or a low-lying placenta.
• Inherited bleeding disorders like von Willebrand's disease
• Other medical conditions: Many other medical conditions, like kidney or liver disease, may also be the cause of menorrhagia.
• Certain medications: Hormonal medications, anti-inflammatory medications, or some other types of medications can lead to prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding.

What Are The Things One Should Do To Manage Menorrhagia?

• There are many types of treatments available to control heavy bleeding, e.g., removal of fibroids, Dilation and Curettage (D&C), Hysterectomy, hormonal treatment, and Endometrial removal. Your doctor will advise you the best method that can be used for your condition.
• Cold compresses help in the construction of blood vessels. Take cold compresses for 10 mins every 4 hours during periods.
• Swimming in between two mensural periods is known to bring the gap between two mensural cycles to normal. If swimming is not possible, sit in bath-tub filled with normal to cold water for 10 minutes every day.
• Get enough sleep.

What Are The Things One Should Avoid To Manage Menorrhagia?

• Avoid too much running around or heavy exercises during periods.
• Avoid dehydration.
• Avoid stress as this is also one of the key reasons for heavy bleeding.

What Are The Best Foods For Menorrhagia?

Here are some home remedies that can help in reducing the blood flow:

• Coriander seeds: Boil 20 grams of coriander leaves in 200 ml of water and let it remain1/3^rd after boiling. Drink it when it becomes cold.
• Magnesium rich foods like melon seeds, cocoa, oats, pumpkin etc. help in maintaining hormonal balance, thus reducing the heavy bleeding.
• Mango bark: Mix 10 ml of mango bark liquid or juice with 130 ml of water and drink it every hour. This is one of the best remedies to cure heavy bleeding.
• Cinnamon: Boiled in water or milk, it helps in reducing the heavy bleeding. It has many other health benefits too.
• Take 1-2 tablespoons of gooseberry juice mixed with honey every day empty stomach.
• Raspberry leaf help in relaxing the uterine muscles, thus controlling heavy bleeding.
• Vitamin B rich foods like green beans, green leafy vegetables, bananas, and fortified cereals etc. help in reducing mensural cramps.
• Take iron-rich foods or supplements to prevent anemia caused by heavy blood loss.

What Are The Worst Foods For Menorrhagia?

Some foods tend to increase the blood flow, hence should be avoided especially during periods:

• Papaya: It is also known for causing miscarriages. Hence, papaya should be avoided during periods.
• Certain Ayurvedic medicines, home products like foxnut, Chayavanprash, ginger etc. are hot in nature. Taking large quantities of such items can also lead to heavy bleeding.
• Caffeine-containing products like coffee and tea
• Foods with high sugar content like pastries, sweets
• High salts and fried foods like French fries, pizzas

What Are The Medicines For Menorrhagia?

What Are The Tips To Manage Menorrhagia?