Heavy Periods

Every woman may get heavy periods from time to time, but the medical condition, called menorrhagia, is when it happens consistently and persistently. It’s not normal to soak through a napkin or tampon in under an hour for three straight hours. It’s not normal to experience heavy periods with blood clots. If you suffer these or any heavy period bleeding symptoms, you may have uterine fibroids. The Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists in Brooklyn, New York and Bronx, New York diagnose and then treat your fibroids to stop the heavy bleeding so you can return to a normal lifestyle. Call today for an appointment.

What Are Heavy Periods?

Heavy periods — medically referred to as menorrhagia, pronounced “men-or-AGE-ee-ya” — involve prolonged menstrual bleeding. Although substantial menstrual bleeding is fairly common, that usually doesn’t reach the extent of menorrhagia, which continues past the normal end of your menstrual cycle. When your menstrual bleeding is very heavy, you can’t maintain your routines, and the not insignificant blood loss often results in painful cramping.

If you experience heavy periods during your menstrual cycle, it may be a sign of a severe condition like uterine fibroids. Dr. George Bolotin and his expert team of Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists in Brooklyn, NY and Bronx, NY treat all sorts of fibroid-related problems. They take pride in helping you return to an active lifestyle, without worrying about heavy bleeding.

What Are the Symptoms of Heavy Periods?

You’re not alone if you don’t know whether your menstrual bleeding is normal or considered excessive. The symptoms of menorrhagia include

• Thoroughly soaking through at least one tampon or sanitary pad each hour for several consecutive hours
• Feeling tired or having other signs of anemia
• Heavy periods with blood clots
• Waking up in the middle of the night to change your protection
• Menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than a week
• Need to double up on sanitary pads during a period
• Menstrual bleeding that forces changes in your routine

Other symptoms may be more severe, requiring you to visit your doctor. The Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists have answers, even if your general practitioner does not, for symptoms such as:

• Post-menopausal vaginal bleeding
• Vaginal bleeding between periods
• Soaking a sanitary pad or tampon in under one hour for at least three consecutive hours

Why Do Fibroids Cause Heavy Period Bleeding?

Uterine fibroids are a common cause of heavy periods. Also referred to as leiomyomas, fibroids are benign growths that form on your uterine wall. They rarely become cancerous. Women begin to develop them during their child-bearing years, and most women have had them by the time they turn 50. Sometimes, they’re so small as to be invisible, but as they get larger, you may notice the symptoms, such as heavy bleeding.

Certain types of fibroids are responsible for particular kinds of heavy bleeding. They may be the cause of your heavy flow if you experience episodes that include:

• Bleeding lasting longer than eight days with heavy period bleeding at the beginning
• Heavy periods with blood clots
• Spotting between periods
• Missing two or three periods in a row
• Having periods spaced less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart

Researchers have yet to pinpoint the reason why fibroids may cause heavy bleeding. But the pressure they put on the endometrial tissue is likely responsible for the heavy bleeding. The presence of the fibroids prevents the uterus from performing normally in two significant ways:

• Fibroids don’t allow the uterus to contract properly, so the uterus can’t stop menstrual bleeding.
• Fibroids create proteins that stimulate uterine blood vessels, which increase bleeding.

What Are Fibroids, Exactly?

Fibroids are growths that appear in or on your uterus, often powered by your hormones. Since there are different types and conditions of fibroids, your doctor has to identify which type you have. Dr. Bolotin is an expert at treating a variety of fibroid types and conditions, including:

• Subserosal fibroids
• Intramural fibroids
• Degenerated fibroids
• Calcified fibroids
• Fibroids during pregnancy
• Fibroid tumors

Fibroids have a wide variety of causes. Although hardly ever cancerous, fibroids are responsible for an array of medical conditions that require treatment. Some of the most common fibroid symptoms, besides heavy bleeding, include:

• Bleeding fibroids
• Weight gain from fibroids
• Fibroid pain
• An enlarged uterus
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Severe menstrual cramping
• A need for frequent urination
• Pelvic pain

What Are the Treatments for Fibroid-Induced Heavy Period Bleeding?

Fibroid clinics, like the one served by Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists, provide non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures to address fibroid-induced heavy bleeding. Best-rated fibroid specialist Dr. Bolotin and his team can discuss your treatment options after a consultation and examination. In general, your options include:

• Uterine fibroid embolization, which offers benefits as well as risks
• Fibroid ultrasound for both diagnosis and treatment
• Hormone treatment
• Fibroid removal through surgical means

If you’re one of the millions of women suffering from heavy period bleeding, seek relief from one of the country’s top fibroid clinics. Conveniently located in Brooklyn and Bronx, the Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists can help you. Contact them today to schedule your initial consultation.