After suffering from menorrhagia, prolonged menstrual bleeding and cramping, it’s only natural to want to find out what can be done to control it. The persons most likely to suffer from this symptom are adolescent girls who recently started their periods or older women approaching menopause. Getting the necessary help is very important because this type of bleeding causes iron deficiency anemia and severe pain.
Tests and Diagnosis
Remember, menorrhagia is not the disease - only the symptom. So your physician is going to have to work really hard at finding out exactly what the problem is. In order to do that, you may have to undergo a series of tests. Then, a plan of treatment can be formalized based on test results. There are several factors that doctors keep in mind when prescribing treatment. Factors may include your overall health and medical history, the cause and severity of the condition, your drug tolerance, the likelihood of your periods actually becoming lighter, your future childbearing plans, the effects of your choices on your lifestyle and your personal opinions.
Thereafter, your doctor may decide that drug therapy would work best for you. But if more invasive treatment is needed, especially after drug therapy fails, then surgery is an option. As indicated by the Mayo Clinic, treatment options may include:
Dilation and curettage (D and 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 menorrhagia successfully, you may need additional D and C procedures if menorrhagia recurs.
Operative hysteroscopy - This procedure uses a tiny tube with a light (hysteroscope) to view your uterine cavity and can aid in the surgical removal of a polyp that may be causing excessive menstrual bleeding.
Endometrial ablation - Using a variety of techniques, your doctor permanently destroys the entire lining of your uterus (endometrium). After endometrial ablation, most women have little or no menstrual flow. Endometrial ablation reduces your ability to become pregnant.
Endometrial resection - This surgical procedure uses an electrosurgical wire loop to remove the lining of the uterus. Both endometrial ablation and endometrial resection benefit women who have very heavy menstrual bleeding. Like endometrial ablation, this procedure reduces your ability to become pregnant.
Hysterectomy - Surgical removal of the uterus and cervix is a permanent procedure that causes sterility and cessation of menstrual periods. Hysterectomy is performed under anesthesia and requires hospitalization. Additional removal of the ovaries (bilateral oophorectomy) may cause premature menopause in younger women.
Resource: Mayo Clinic
Dita Faulkner is a freelance writer that lives in the southern U.S. She currently is writing a short story entitled, Some of Aunt Pea Lou’s Crazy.