Heavy Periods | Excessive Bleeding
Flint • Genesee County • Burton • Fenton • Flushing • Grand Blanc
If your menstrual periods are so heavy (or painful) that they affect your normal activities, you may have excessive menstrual bleeding. The medical term for heavy periods, or periods that last longer than normal, or both is menorrhagia. Symptoms of menorrhagia may also include cramping, pelvic pain and anemia.
Our caring OBGYNs understand how difficult and disruptive this condition can be. The good news is that we offer the most advanced diagnostic tools, as well as the latest, state-of-the-art treatments for heavy periods, menstrual pain, cramping and other symptoms of menorrhagia.
Excessive menstrual bleeding is a very common condition that occurs for many of reasons. Two of the most common causes are: a hormone imbalance and uterine growths. Our experienced gynecologists can identify and treat the underlying cause of your menstrual problems – so you can stop suffering and start living again.
CAUSES OF HEAVY PERIODS
Heavy Periods Caused By Hormone Imbalances
Your menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. When these hormones are out of balance, they can cause heavy periods or bleeding between periods.
Causes of hormonal imbalances may include:
- Puberty
- Perimenopause
- PMS / PMDD / PCOS
- Diabetes
- Thyroid disease
- Obesity
- Stress
- Cancer or illness
- Cancer treatments
- Medications
- Nutritional imbalance
- Strenuous exercise
- Anorexia
Uterine Growths Causing Heavy Periods
- Fibroids – benign (non-cancerous) growths in or near the uterus
- Polyps – growths that attach to the inner wall of the uterus and protrude into the uterine cavity
- Adenomyosis – endometrial tissue normally lining the uterus grows into the muscular walls of the uterus
- Endometriosis– tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus grows outside your uterus
- Endometrial cancer – an uncontrolled growth of cells of the uterine lining
- Hyperplasia – an abnormal proliferation of cells (cell division or growth) that may result in enlargement (growth) of the uterus. This term is sometimes used to refer to a benign tumor or fibroid.
TREATMENT OF HEAVY PERIODS
Treatments for Heavy Periods
Hormone Therapy for Heavy Periods
Our OBGYNs may recommend you take hormones such as progesterone or birth control pills to control your period. Hormone therapy can limit the swelling of your endometrium (uterine lining that sheds each month during your period) and extra endometrial tissue (implants). This treatment may be used before, instead of, or after surgery.
Endometrial Resection for Heavy Periods
Endometriosis resection is the removal of endometrial tissue implants while leaving the uterus in place. Endometriosis resection is recommended for women who want to become pregnant in the future, or who wish to keep their uterus intact to avoid the side-effects that occur when the uterus is removed.
Endometrial Ablation for Heavy Periods
Energy is used to destroy the endometrial lining of the uterus with the goal of easing or stopping your periods. This technique is usually done on an outpatient basis, and is not recommended for women who may want to get pregnant.
Hysterectomy for Heavy Periods
This is a last resort and is only necessary in the most severe cases. Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of your uterus. Any visible growths will be removed and, depending upon your condition, your doctor may also remove your fallopian tubes and ovaries. Based on your condition, there are several approaches to hysterectomy – including minimally invasive, laparoscopic and robotic assisted hysterectomy that your doctor may discuss.
Hysterectomy Surgery for Heavy Periods
Most cases of heavy bleeding DO NOT require surgery – and can be treated with medication or other minimally invasive treatments in our Flint OBGYN office.
A hysterectomy is a surgical removal of the uterus with or without removal of the patient’s fallopian tubes and ovaries. In instances where a hysterectomy becomes necessary, we offer the most advanced, least invasive types of hysterectomies – with the least pain and the most rapid recovery.
Vaginal Hysterectomy – A vaginal hysterectomy is done through a cut in your vagina. The surgeon operates through this incision and closes it with stitches.
Traditional Laparoscopy – With traditional laparoscopy, your surgeon operates through a few small incisions using long instruments and a tiny camera to guide doctors during surgery. Your uterus may also be removed through a single incision in the belly button.
da Vinci Multi-port Hysterectomy – With the da Vinci Surgical System, your doctor operates through a few small abdominal incisions (multi-port surgery) instead of a large open incision ( similar to traditional laparoscopy). The da Vinci System features special wristed instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human wrist. da Vinci also features a magnified 3D HD® vision system that allows surgeons to see key anatomy with depth and clarity. As a result, da Vinci enables your surgeon to operate with enhanced vision, precision, and control.
da Vinci® Single-Site® Surgery – Your uterus can also be removed through a small incision in your belly button using da Vinci Single-Site Surgery. This technology allows for virtually scarless results (for non-cancerous conditions only).
State-of-the-art da Vinci uses the latest in surgical and robotics technologies for simple and complex procedures. Your doctor controls the da Vinci System, which translates his or her hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside your body.