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Many women experience menstrual bleeding which feels different to them than usual: it could be heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual bleeding, bleeding not at the expected time, or a combination of these. If you experience irregular menstrual bleeding, you should know that you are not alone. This is a known phenomenon in the medical world. It is estimated that one in three or four women suffers from irregular bleeding of one type or another!
Irregular bleeding could be a combination of bleeding and
, or unusual bleeding only, and it could appear at various stages of the woman’s life due to various reasons, and it is important to consult with expert gynecologists regarding this issue.
How is irregular bleeding treated?
It is important to go to a gynecologist who is an expert in this field. In the first stage, an investigation will be made as to whether the bleeding originates from the uterus, the vagina, the cervix, or the urinary or digestive tract. The initial diagnosis will determine the medical investigation and treatment that will be given.
Prolonged menstrual bleeding or heavy menstrual bleeding appear in women of various ages and for various reasons: girls who only just got their period may experience irregular, prolonged and “heavy” periods. This is usually due to hormonal immaturity, which is characteristic of the first year of getting the menstrual period. During the years of fertility, women may report a period every two weeks or a more prolonged period than usual.
Common reasons for heavy bleeding in women
- Myomas – a tumor, usually benign, of the uterine wall
- Polyps – A tumor of the lining of the uterine cavity
- Use of such contraceptive methods as an intrauterine device, or pills at a dose that is not suitable for the woman
- Endometriosis – endometrium that breaches the uterine muscle wall and causes bleeding and pain
- During menopause, Other reasons could be atrophy of the endometrium and the vaginal mucosa (i.e. thinning of vaginal and uterine tissue during menopause caused by a lack of estrogen) or endometrial cancer.
Additional symptoms
Apart from heavy bleeding, some of the following symptoms may also appear abdominal pain or menstrual pain, pain during sexual intercourse, unusual fatigue or shortness of breath indicating severe anemia. Some women report that they have difficulty climbing stairs; that they feel depressed, burned out and lacking in energy.
Additionally, the following may appear: hot flushes, sweating, acne, excessive hair, hair loss, secretion of breast milk in women who are no longer breastfeeding.
This article was written by Dr. Shlomi Cohen-Eylon, senior surgeon at the Department of Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, and consultant and surgeon at Herzliya Medical Center.
