Menstrual bleeding issues

When is bleeding considered “abnormal”?

Bleeding between periods
Bleeding after sex
Heavy bleeding with clots, accidents and or frequent changes of pads/tampons during your period
Menstrual cycles too long (>38 days) or too short (<24 days)
Bleeding after menopause

Overview over Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia is the medical term for menstrual periods with abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding. Although heavy menstrual bleeding is a common concern, most women don’t experience blood loss severe enough to be defined as menorrhagia.

With menorrhagia, you can’t maintain your usual activities when you have your period because you have so much blood loss and cramping. If you dread your period because you have such heavy menstrual bleeding, talk with your doctor. There are many effective treatments for menorrhagia.

Menstrual bledding issues? Make an appointment now

If you experience menstrual cycles that are not regular and are bothersome please schedule an appointment to discuss, evaluate and treat.

Premenstrual Syndrome

PMS occurs one to two weeks before your period begins. Some women experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms. Others experience few symptoms or even none at all. PMS can cause:

bloating
irritability
backaches
headaches
breast soreness
acne
food cravings
excessive fatigue
depression
anxiety
feelings of stress
insomnia
constipation
diarrhea
mild stomach cramps

Heavy Periods

Another common menstrual problem is a heavy period. Also called menorrhagia, heavy periods cause you to bleed more than normal. You may also have your period for longer than the average of five to seven days.

Menorrhagia is mostly caused by imbalances in hormone levels, especially progesterone and estrogen.

Other causes of heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding include:

puberty
vaginal infections
inflammation of the cervix
underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
noncancerous uterus tumors (fibroids)
changes in diet or exercise

You may experience different symptoms every month, and the severity of these symptoms can also vary. PMS is uncomfortable, but it’s generally not worrisome unless it interferes with your normal activities.