We are talking about a gynecological problem for which only 54% of European women go to their gynecologist.
If we focus on how this pathology is in Spain, the data is more deficient, since it shows that less than half of the women who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding go to the doctor’s office, normalizing this problem as one more phase in the evolution of their reproductive life.
What is considered excessive bleeding?
According to the SEGO document, it is difficult to measure bleeding for women. It can be quantified by taking into account the amount of feminine hygiene products used during the .
There are other data that can help identify this problem, such as bleeding greater than 80 milliliters or menstrual periods extending for 7 days or more. Also that the woman feels fatigue and tiredness, sometimes derived from conditions such as anemia that can cause menorrhagia.
But, the SEGO document goes further, and it is that the presence of anemia should not be the only symptom to take into account when diagnosing excessive bleeding. Simply, if these abundant rules affect the quality of life of the patient, it must be taken into account.
Causes of menorrhagia
As the SEGO document explains, the most common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding “is ovulatory disorder (57.7%). Of the structural causes, polyps are the most common pathology (16.2%), followed by fibroids (12%) and adenomyosis (thickening of the endometrium) (4.9%).
Why should you see a specialist if you suffer from menorrhagia?
Practicing physical exercise, academic and work performance, or something as basic as going to the beach or swimming pool during the hot months, are complicated for all those women who suffer heavy menstrual bleeding.
For this reason, as Dr. Jorge Fernández Parra, head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology service at the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital and one of the authors of the article published in the SEGO magazine, points out, “first of all, we must tell the women who consult when their periods affect their quality of life, because there are many options to improve it”.
In addition, specialists emphasize that consulting this problem with a doctor is essential, especially considering that there are numerous solutions to tackle it.
In this sense, Dr. Fernández Parra emphasizes that “it is striking to observe how, after receiving treatment, these patients comment that their lives have changed; That is why it is essential to initiate a diagnosis and establish the appropriate treatment for each case”.
Treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding
To reduce the amount of menstrual bleeding, gynecology specialists have different tools. Choosing one or the other will depend on the general state of health of the woman and whether she wants to be a mother or not.
As Dr. Fernández Parra explains in the SEGO document, the first option is usually treatment with drugs (NSAIDs) or with drugs intended to improve blood coagulation, such as tranexamic acid, which are the first line of treatment.
If these treatments are not effective enough, hormonal drugs such as IUDs or contraceptives can be used.
The last option when these treatments fail is surgery. “The definitive treatment is hysterectomy, but this is a major surgical procedure with significant emotional and physical complications, as well as significant social and economic costs.”
For this reason, “in recent years, less invasive surgical techniques have been developed, such as resection and ablation of the endometrium, with the aim of improving menstrual symptoms, by removing or removing the full thickness of the endometrium”
These types of interventions “have shown high efficacy, with few complications and rapid return of the patient to her normal and working life.”