Heavy menstrual bleeding

Heavy menstrual bleeding, medically known as menorrhagia, is characterized by abnormally heavy or prolonged periods.

Some of the most common symptoms and signs include menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days, the need to change your sanitary pad or tampon every 2 to 3 hours repeatedly, menstrual flow with large blood clots, severe and continuous cramping in the lower abdomen during a period, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, headaches, mood swings and extreme weakness.

This problem can affect any woman of childbearing age. However, young adolescents who have recently started menstruating and older women approaching menopause tend to be more susceptible to this problem.

Being overweight, using certain medications such as blood thinners and having a hereditary bleeding disorder also put you at a higher risk.

There are many possible causes of heavy menstrual bleeding, including hormonal imbalance in the body, fibroids or noncancerous tumors of the uterus, uterine polyps, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, use of blood thinners and a side effect of using an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control.

It can also happen due to medical conditions like adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and other conditions that can prevent normal blood clotting.

Heavy menstruation can affect your daily activities, as well as your emotional state and social life. Moreover, it can cause serious health problems like iron-deficiency anemia.