Hypermenorrhea, what does it consist of?

Hypermenorrhea It is an alteration of menstruation in which bleeding is very abundant and, in addition, it lasts more days than normal. The medical term that is usually used for this situation is menorrhagia.

Most women worry about having very heavy menstrual bleeding. However, hypermenorrhea differs from this situation because It involves a series of symptoms and complications.

It is usually due to hormonal disorders, endometrial polyps, fibroids or blood disorders. Due to its importance, we explain everything you need to know about hypermenorrhea and how to distinguish it.

What is hypermenorrhea?

Hypermenorrhea is a disorder in which menstruation presents with much more abundant bleeding than normal. Further, this bleeding tends to last longer than normal rules (more than 5 days).

Hypermenorrhea occurs during normal days of menstruation; that is to say, the menstrual cycle follows the same rhythm, it does not change. This makes it even more difficult to distinguish and identify this pathology.

The main symptom of this disorder is, as we have mentioned, that the bleeding is very intense. The woman who suffers it needs to constantly change the pads or tampons I'm using

In fact, it is often difficult to control menstrual flow, even carrying tampon and compress at the same time. This can affect rest because, often, the woman usually gets up at night to change.

The bleeding can last more than a week. In fact, it is usually a different bleeding. Sometimes blood clots are expelled larger than normal

But, the most important thing is that hypermenorrhea It is usually accompanied by other symptoms due to anemia for the great losses of blood. The woman usually suffers from extreme tiredness, fatigue and even difficulty breathing.

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Complications of hypermenorrhea

In addition to anemia, hypermenorrhea can cause very painful menstrual cramps. These cramps are so intense that they are usually the cause of the woman visiting the gynecologist.

However, the ideal is that if you notice changes in the bleeding, or think it is more intense than normal, go to the doctor. No need to be ashamed; paying attention to menstruation can help detect numerous pathologies in time.

What are the causes of hypermenorrhea?

In many cases, it is difficult to find out the exact cause of this pathology. But nevertheless, some of the most frequent causes are:

• Hormonal alterations. In many women, hormonal imbalances cause the endometrium, the mucosa that lines the uterus, to develop too much. This causes that, when detached, the menstrual bleeding is very intense. When the ovaries do not perform ovulation during the menstrual cycle, progesterone is not produced. Progesterone is one of the hormones that influence hormonal imbalance.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome. It is just one of the factors that causes the hormonal mismatch mentioned.
• Polyps: they are small benign tumors in the uterus that make bleeding more intense or prolonged.
• Uterine fibroids.
• Intrauterine device. It is the contraceptive method that we normally refer to as IUDs. Hypermenorrhea can be one of its side effects.
• Uterine cancer or cervical cancer. It is one of the most serious causes but, fortunately, it is not so frequent. It is related to the papillomavirus.

On the other hand, blood disorders, such as bleeding or clotting disorders, can also cause hypermenorrhea. Similarly, certain medications such as anticoagulants or anti-inflammatories can cause it.

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How is it diagnosed?

As we have already mentioned, The main thing is that you go to the doctor if you have doubts about your bleeding. You must explain how many days your period usually lasts and the amount of flow you usually expel.

Surely the gynecologist will examine you physically and send you some complementary tests. First, a blood test is usually done to assess whether there is anemia or other blood disorders.

A test called a pap smear is also usually done.. It consists of collecting cells from the cervix to check for infections or alterations that are related to cancer. Ultrasound usually helps diagnosis.

Hypermenorrhea treatment

The treatment of hypermenorrhea will depend on the cause and severity of the situation. It can be based on medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that help control pain associated.

Other medications such as oral contraceptives or oral progesterone may also be used. Numerous studies have shown that oral contraceptives help regulate menstrual cycles and to reduce this type of symptoms.

In addition, there is a hormonal intrauterine device that is responsible for releasing a substance that reduces the thickness of the endometrium. Thus, the menstrual flow and cramps decrease.

There are other surgical treatments that can also help. They are slightly more complicated, so it is the doctor who must explain all the options.

In conclusion

If you think you suffer from hypermenorrhea, Do not hesitate to go to the doctor. Paying attention to your menstruation is one of the basic aspects to be able to reach the diagnosis and find the right treatment.