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The arrival of the menstrual cycle often brings with it a sense of general exhaustion and a more or less painful symptomatology, which is poured into everyday life.
However, a heavy menstrual cycle in addition to manifesting symptoms such as pain and more consistent blood loss than usual, many times it is also accompanied by anemia from iron deficiency. This is a condition in which the body does not have sufficient levels of iron and this can jeopardize the transport of oxygen through the blood.
Hypermenorrhea is therefore aalteration of the menstrual cycle, where the quantity and duration of the flow are higher than that defined as “regular”. It affects a slice of the female population and its appearance requires the consultation of a gynecologist for one thorough diagnosis.
The heavy menstrual cycle can in fact be caused by several factors, so the first thing to do is to investigate for identify the triggering cause. At this point it will be possible to proceed with any diagnostic tests suggested by the same specialist and finally undertake an adequate treatment.
What are the underlying causes of hypermenorrhea and what are the possible treatments? We deepened the subject with the Doctor Mariapia Di Nicola, Surgeon, Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
What is that
«The term hypermenorrhea is used to indicate some abundant menstruation that last over a week. In this case, they are lost more than 80 ml of blood during a cycle. Technically, a menstruation with these characteristics is called menorrhagia. In some situations it can be associated with an increase in the frequency of menstruation (polymenorrhea), that is the days between one cycle and the next are reduced compared to the canonical 28 days », explains the doctor.
Causes
“At the base of hypermenorrhea there is a mechanism by which theuterus fails to control blood loss coming from the endometrium. This can occur due to the presence of fibroids, myomas or uterine polyps which are among the most common causes of this condition. An increase in the amount of estrogen in the body can cause menometrorrhages as it sometimes happens in the premenopausal and adolescent periods.
Also, different systemic pathologies they can cause menorrhagia including hormonal instability, with the concomitant formation of ovarian cysts, thyroid, coagulation, kidney diseases, hypertension. In some more serious cases, menorrhagia can be caused by tumors of the endometrium », Dr. Di Nicola specifies.
Symptoms
“The consequences of these abundant cycles can be important, first of all anemia. For this reason, in the presence of a cycle with these characteristics, it is good to check the iron values in the blood. No less important is the impact that an abundant cycle can have on the quality of life. For example the tiredness that this condition entails, the headache and the abundant blood losses make the management of daily life complicated, so work, study and family commitments may be affected », continues the doctor.
To understand, therefore, if the menstrual cycle is abundant, you need to look at:
- to the duration;
- quantity, i.e. if you tend to change the absorbent very frequently.
In these cases it is better not to underestimate the situation, rather it is preferable to consult the gynecologist who may suggest various tests, such as blood tests, to check iron levels.
Treatments
«To treat hypermenorrhea correctly it is important to start from one correct diagnosis. Once the cause of the bleeding has been identified, it must then be eliminated or managed with drug therapies adequate. The main drugs that are used to control bleeding while waiting to establish the causes are:tranexamic acid and progestogens. In some situations it is necessary to resort to surgery », concludes the expert.
In general, therefore, it is good to keep the duration and abundance of the menstrual cycle under control. If you are suspicious, the advice is to consult your trusted gynecologist as soon as possible for a thorough examination.
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