Menorrhagia : Heavy periods, also called menorrhagia, is when a woman loses an excessive amount of blood during consecutive periods. Menorrhagia can occur by itself or in combination with other symptoms, such as menstrual pain (dysmenorrhoea).
Heavy bleeding does not necessarily mean there is anything seriously wrong, but it can affect a woman physically, emotionally and socially, and can cause disruption to everyday life.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of menorrhagia may include:
• Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours
• Needing to use double sanitary protection to control your menstrual flow
• Needing to wake up to change sanitary protection during the night
• Bleeding for a week or longer
• Passing large blood clots with menstrual flow
• Restricting daily activities due to heavy menstrual flow
• Symptoms of anemia, such as tiredness, fatigue or shortness of breath
Medications
• First line
• IntraUterine System insertion
• Second Line
• Tranexamic acid an antifibrinolytic agent
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Combined oral contraceptive pills to prevent proliferation of the endometrium
• Third line
• Oral progestogen (e.g. norethisterone), to prevent proliferation of the endometrium
• Injected progestogen (e.g. Depo provera)
• Other options
• Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists (e.g. Goserelin)