Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined as bleeding loss more than 80ml/period. Or else, report:

• Using more than 1 tampon per hour
• More than 20 tampons or pads per cycle
• Bleeding for more than 7 days
• Passing clots more than 50c piece

Unfortunately many of (40%) women believe their cycles are normal and put up with a reduced quality of life.

There are many causes of heavy bleeding including polyps, fibroids, hyperplasia, cancer, dysfunctional uterine bleeding and less common causes due to thyroid or bleeding disorders.

If there has been a change in menstrual flow in a person >35 years of age, the gold standard is to perform a hysteroscopy and curette to exclude serious pathology.

Numerous medical and surgical options are available for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding.

© 2010 - Dr. Nicole Ong - Gynaecologist Melbourne