Menstrual Periods - Heavy, Prolonged, or Irregular

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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office

Your doctor will perform a physical examination, including a pelvic exam. Your doctor will ask questions like the following to determine the history of this symptom:

• What is your age?
• Have your last three menstrual periods been normal in timing and amount for you?
• How long do your periods usually last?
• How many days are there usually between your menstrual periods?
• How did this cycle (and others) differ from your usual menstruation?
• Have you passed blood clots?
• How many days has the bleeding lasted with these different or abnormal menstrual periods?
• How heavy have they been? How many pads and tampons have you been using per day?
• When was your last menstrual period?
• How old were you when had your first menstrual period?
• Do you use birth control pills? Do you use an IUD for birth control?
• Do you take an estrogen supplement?
• Do you take aspirin more than once per week?
• Do you take Coumadin, heparin, or other anticoagulants?
• Have you recently given birth, had surgery, or experienced trauma on or near the vagina or uterus?
• Have you recently had a vaginal or uterine infection?
• What other symptoms do you have? Abdominal or pelvic pain?
• Do you have nausea or vomiting?
• Are you pregnant or could you be pregnant?
• Have you noticed a growth, lump, or lesion on the genitals?
• Have you had blood in your stools?
• Do you bleed easily?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• Pap smear (if bleeding is inactive)
• Endometrial biopsy
• Pelvic ultrasound
• Lab tests such as thyroid function tests, CBC, pregnancy test

Ibuprofen or another prostaglandin inhibitor is often prescribed. Ibuprofen is also available in lower dosages (Advil, Nuprin) without prescription.

In some cases of heavy bleeding, dilation and curettage, "D and C", may be required.

If a tumor is found, surgery (a hysterectomy) will sometimes be needed, but the common "fibroid" tumor (uterine fibroids) may stop growing by itself, and surgery may not be needed depending on the amount of bleeding and the response to various treatment attempts. Such tumors often grow slowly and stop growing at menopause, so an operation can be avoided by waiting. However, if there has been rapid growth of the fibroid tumor or if your Pap smear is abnormal, surgery or another type of therapy may be necessary.

If the heavy bleeding is related to hormonal abnormalities, treatment of the specific abnormality will correct the bleeding. Female hormones (birth control pills or progestins) are commonly used to regulate menses.