Dr. Namrata Shah and Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah offers treatment for patients with complaints of heavy periods (menorrhagia) at Saavi Women's Hospital, Ahmedabad. Menorrhagia is the medical term for menstrual periods with abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding.
With menorrhagia, you can’t maintain your usual activities when you have your period because you have so much blood loss and cramping. If you dread your period because you have such heavy menstrual bleeding, talk with your doctor. There are many effective treatments for menorrhagia.
Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah will most likely ask about your medical history and menstrual cycles. You may be asked to keep a diary of bleeding and nonbleeding days, including notes on how heavy your flow was and how much sanitary protection you needed to control it.
Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah will do a physical exam and may recommend one or more tests or procedures such as:
Blood tests: A sample of your blood may be evaluated for iron deficiency (anemia) and other conditions, such as thyroid disorders or blood-clotting abnormalities.
Ultrasound: This imaging method uses sound waves to produce images of your uterus, ovaries and pelvis.
Pap test: In this test, cells from your cervix are collected and tested for infection, inflammation or changes that may be cancerous or may lead to cancer.
Endometrial biopsy: Your doctor may take a sample of tissue from the inside of your uterus to be examined by a pathologist.
Based on the results of your initial tests, your doctor may recommend further testing, including:
Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah can be certain of a diagnosis of menorrhagia only after ruling out other menstrual disorders, medical conditions or medications as possible causes or aggravations of this condition.
Signs and symptoms of menorrhagia may include:
In some cases, the cause of heavy menstrual bleeding is unknown, but a number of conditions may cause menorrhagia. Common causes include:
Hormone imbalance: In a normal menstrual cycle, a balance between the hormones estrogen and progesterone regulates the buildup of the lining of the uterus (endometrium), which is shed during menstruation. If a hormone imbalance occurs, the endometrium develops in excess and eventually sheds by way of heavy menstrual bleeding.
A number of conditions can cause hormone imbalances, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity, insulin resistance and thyroid problems.
Dysfunction of thyroid hormone: The thyroid dysfunction in women is related to abnormal menstrual cycle .
The hypothyroidism ( Low TSH ) is a frequent cause of multiple disorders in women at reproductive age ranged from sexual dysfunction, menstrual abnormalities and infertility. Disturbed cycles and abnormal blood flow are the first menstrual problems for women with hypothyroidism. The occult menorrhagia is an earlier presentation for women with subclinical hypothyroidism.
For hyperthyroidism ( High TSH ), it delays the onset of menses if occurs before puberty, while in reproductive age group, it is related to oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea. Menstrual disturbances in women with thyroid dysfunction are sometimes the first symptoms which help in diagnosis, however, the subclinical thyroid cases (hyper- and hypothyroidism), might be neglected for many years
Dysfunction of the ovaries: If your ovaries don’t release an egg (ovulate) during a menstrual cycle (anovulation), your body doesn’t produce the hormone progesterone, as it would during a normal menstrual cycle. This leads to hormone imbalance and may result in menorrhagia.
Uterine fibroids: These noncancerous (benign) tumors of the uterus appear during your childbearing years. Uterine fibroids may cause heavier than normal or prolonged menstrual bleeding.
Polyps: Small, benign growths on the lining of the uterus (uterine polyps) may cause heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding.
Adenomyosis: This condition occurs when glands from the endometrium become embedded in the uterine muscle, often causing heavy bleeding and painful periods.
Intrauterine device (IUD): Menorrhagia is a well-known side effect of using a nonhormonal intrauterine device for birth control. Your doctor will help you plan for alternative management options.
Pregnancy complications: A single, heavy, late period may be due to a miscarriage. Another cause of heavy bleeding during pregnancy includes an unusual location of the placenta, such as a low-lying placenta or placenta previa.
Cancer Uterine cancer and cervical cancer can cause excessive menstrual bleeding, especially if you are postmenopausal or have had an abnormal Pap test in the past.
Inherited bleeding disorders: Some bleeding disorders — such as von Willebrand’s disease, a condition in which an important blood-clotting factor is deficient or impaired — can cause abnormal menstrual bleeding.
Medications: Certain medications, like I-Pill or Abortion pill, hormonal medications such as estrogen and progestins, and anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) or enoxaparin (Lovenox), can contribute to heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding.
Other medical conditions: A number of other medical conditions, including liver or kidney disease, may be associated with menorrhagia.
Risk factors vary with age and whether you have other medical conditions that may explain your menorrhagia. In a normal cycle, the release of an egg from the ovaries stimulates the body’s production of progesterone, the female hormone most responsible for keeping periods regular. When no egg is released, insufficient progesterone can cause heavy menstrual bleeding.
Menorrhagia in adolescent girls is typically due to anovulation. Adolescent girls are especially prone to anovulatory cycles in the first year after their first menstrual period (menarche).
Menorrhagia in older reproductive-age women is typically due to uterine pathology, including fibroids, polyps and adenomyosis. However, other problems, such as uterine cancer, bleeding disorders, medication side effects and liver or kidney disease could be contributing factors.
Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding can lead to other medical conditions, including:
Iron deficiency Anemia ( Low Hb ) Menorrhagia can cause blood loss anemia by reducing the number of circulating red blood cells. The number of circulating red blood cells is measured by hemoglobin, a protein that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues.
Signs and symptoms include pale skin, weakness and fatigue. Although diet plays a role in iron deficiency anemia, the problem is complicated by heavy menstrual periods.
Severe pain Along with heavy menstrual bleeding, you might have painful menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). Sometimes the cramps associated with menorrhagia are severe enough to require medical evaluation.
Specific treatment for menorrhagia is based on a number of factors, including:
Medical therapy for menorrhagia may include:
Oral contraceptives: Aside from providing birth control, oral contraceptives can help regulate menstrual cycles and reduce episodes of excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding.
Oral progesterone: The hormone progesterone can help correct hormone imbalance and reduce menorrhagia.
You may need surgical treatment for menorrhagia if medical therapy is unsuccessful. Treatment options include:
Dilation and curettage (D&C): In this procedure, your doctor opens (dilates) your cervix and then scrapes or suctions tissue from the lining of your uterus to reduce menstrual bleeding. Although this procedure is common and often treats acute or active bleeding successfully, you may need additional D&C procedures if menorrhagia recurs.
Myomectomy: This procedure involves surgical removal of uterine fibroids. Depending on the size, number and location of the fibroids, your surgeon may choose to perform the myomectomy using open abdominal surgery, through several small incisions (laparoscopically), or through the vagina and cervix (hysteroscopically).
Hysterectomy: Hysterectomy — surgery to remove your uterus and cervix — is a permanent procedure that causes sterility and ends menstrual periods. Hysterectomy is performed under anesthesia and requires hospitalization. Additional removal of the ovaries (bilateral oophorectomy) may cause premature menopause.
The cost of management of menorrhagia in Ahmedabad depends on the specific cause and its treatment. Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah will discuss the cost and payment options with you during your consultation.
THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS OBTAINED THROUGH ONLINE SOURCES AND MEDICAL LITERATURE. IT'S NOT MEANT TO REPLACE AN ACTUAL CONSULTATION WITH A DOCTOR BUT IS A STARTING POINT FOR YOUR OWN RESEARCH.
