What to do if you have heavy periods. Causes of heavy periods and how to stop bleeding? Physiological causes of heavy periods with clots

Abundant periods can be an indicator of individual characteristics or a pathological condition. In addition to causing physical discomfort, they are often a cause for concern. Women should know what the abundance of blood discharge depends on and what to do with strong periods. First of all, you need to contact a specialist for a detailed examination. The doctor will help determine the causes of heavy periods and prescribe the necessary treatment.

The main reason why menstruation is abundant is the pathological conditions of the uterus. Blood during critical days is released due to contractions of this organ. In a healthy state, they are rhythmic and intense, therefore.

The diseased uterus contracts weakly, the muscles cannot hold the discharge, so the woman develops, or, as they are commonly called in medicine, menorrhagia. Common pathologies of the uterus that affect the amount of discharge include:

benign or malignant neoplasms - fibroids, polyps;
inflammatory processes;
adenomyosis;
diseases of the cervix.

pregnancy related

Menstruation, which is accompanied by profuse blood loss, may be associated with pregnancy and appears in such cases:

During childbearing. It is not uncommon, but it is not considered the norm either, because it is often a symptom of a miscarriage.
With an ectopic pregnancy, when the embryo ruptures the fallopian tube.
As a result of a surgical abortion.
Menses after childbirth. The first menstruation can be heavy, especially if before pregnancy the menstrual flow was very strong due to the individual characteristics of the woman or the birth was complicated.

The first month and a half after childbirth, the body is cleansed and restored. This process is accompanied by abundant blood secretions - lochia.

Diseases of the cervix

If menstruation is characterized by a large amount of lost blood, then they can be a symptom of cervical diseases such as:

Polyps are neoplasms that are easily injured and bleed, thereby increasing the abundance of secretions.
Cancer tumors - provoke the release of large amounts of estrogen, which affects the amount of blood. Its color is bright, often scarlet.
Endometriosis is an abnormal growth of mucous tissue that flakes off and comes out in the form of secretions, increasing blood volume.
- Covering the mucous membrane of the cervix with ulcers that can bleed.

Diseases of the body of the uterus

Very heavy menstruation can occur due to pathologies of the body of the uterus. The most common are:

Uterine fibroids - refers to benign tumors that appear in women of childbearing age.
Adenomyosis is an abnormal growth of the endometrium (internal mucous tissue of the uterus) and its ingrowth into the muscle tissue of the organ. It is most common in women who have given birth in their 30s and 40s. This dysfunction of the endometrium provokes very heavy menstrual bleeding. It develops against the background of hormonal disruptions, but the etiology of the disease has not yet been fully investigated.
Endometritis - inflammatory processes in the mucous tissue of the uterus, the most important symptom is the violation of the menstrual cycle, in particular the fact that the blood is released more intensively.
Polyps - increase bleeding in the same way as formations in the neck.
Malignant tumors.

If there is a combination of diseases, then the unpleasant symptoms increase. For example, in practice it occurs quite often and requires close medical attention.

Reasons not related to the uterus

Abundant menstruation can be caused by causes not related to diseases of the uterus and appendages. Most of the pathologies that provoke menorrhagia develop against the background of hormonal imbalance. But sometimes heavy menstruation occurs with violations of the circulatory, endocrine systems, and in some other cases.

Blood pathology

If a woman has genetic or acquired problems with blood clotting, then the cycle is characterized by certain features:

heavy periods are observed due to the fact that the blood does not have time to clot;
menstruation is longer and can last 7–10 days.

In addition to the fact that poor clotting manifests itself monthly during critical days, it is noticeable with mechanical injuries of the skin, manifested by nosebleeds and bleeding gums.

The causes of this pathological condition are most often medications and a deficiency of essential trace elements.

Anovulatory bleeding

Abundant menstruation also occurs with anovulatory uterine bleeding. The normal menstrual cycle consists of 2 phases:

Rejection of the endometrium and restoration of tissues for readiness for fertilization - begins on the 1st day of menstruation. At the same time, the egg matures in the ovaries, after which it is released from the follicle into the fallopian tube, provoked by the release of the maximum amount of luteinizing hormone.
Formation in place of the follicle of the corpus luteum, which secretes progesterone. Ideal conditions are created for the fertilization of the egg: the growth of the endometrium slows down, the surface layer increases. Shortly before menstruation, the amount of the hormone decreases, the endometrium stops growing, oxygen supply is disturbed in it, the cells die and come out with menstrual blood.

With an anovulatory cycle, ovulation is absent, respectively, the corpus luteum is not formed and normal hormonal changes do not occur. In this regard, the endometrium does not stop growing and it becomes abnormally large. Abundant bleeding is the result of rejection and release of this layer.

An anovulatory cycle occurs in isolated cases in healthy women under the influence of external factors. Most often it happens:

in certain age periods - during puberty or menopause;
in special conditions - after childbirth and during breastfeeding;
in stressful situations for the body - nervous tension, sudden weight loss, physical and emotional exhaustion;
with pathologies - infertility, inflammatory processes, endocrine disorders, disorders of the nervous system, genetic and congenital diseases.

Reproductive system disorder

Anovulatory bleeding is common in girls who are in the process of puberty.

Despite the fact that in a teenager such a phenomenon is considered physiological, experts recommend conducting a hormonal study of the pituitary and hypothalamus systems to exclude a pathological anovulatory cycle.

Its main symptoms are:

basal temperature that does not change at the second stage of the cycle (during and after ovulation) - in a healthy state, it grows;
previous amenorrhea;
too abundant or prolonged (up to 15 days) discharge;
periods leading to anemia.

Weight problems

Bleeding during menstruation can occur due to sudden weight loss or weight gain. Strict diets do not provide for the presence of all trace elements and vitamins necessary for women's health, so the possibility of hormonal failure is not excluded.

Excessive fullness is often the result of a disorder of the endocrine system and hormonal imbalance, against which most often there are heavy periods.

According to statistics, most often excessive bleeding during menstruation occurs in girls who lose weight on sour-milk mono-diets. Kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese affect blood clotting, thinning it.

Stress

Menstruation is more abundant than usual, may be the result of short-term or prolonged stress. Experiences and emotional upheavals affect the release of hormones, which can lead to imbalances.

Endocrinopathy

Most of the causes of heavy periods are associated with diseases caused by a malfunction of the endocrine glands. All of them are accompanied by a violation of the normal hormonal background. The most common are nanism, diabetes insipidus, hypothalamic-pituitary obesity, hyperhydropexic syndrome.

In addition to excessive menstrual bleeding, symptoms of endocrinopathies are weight loss, skin deterioration, apathy, nervous system instability, and headaches.

Iatrogenic causes

Iatrogenic causes of disease include the actions and statements of medical professionals. Among them there are those because of which menstruation is strong. This may be successful or not surgical therapy, the effect on the body of medications, the use of certain contraceptives.

Surgical interventions

Too heavy periods can be the result of surgical interventions. The most common:

abortive termination of pregnancy;
scraping residues after miscarriages;
C-section;
damage to the uterus during childbirth and its correction.

Taking medications

If menstruation is very abundant, you need to pay attention to recently taken medications. According to the observations of experts, such a reaction is most often caused by:

anti-inflammatory drugs;
anticoagulants;
antiplatelet agents;
contraceptives;
hormone analogues.

intrauterine device

Very heavy periods can occur after the establishment of such a contraceptive as an intrauterine device. In this case, the discharge should be strictly controlled by a specialist.

Symptoms of heavy periods

It is not so easy to determine on your own which periods are considered abundant, due to some factors:

the volume of menstruation is individual and depends on age, genetics, lifestyle and current state of health;
the amount of blood during menstruation differs depending on the day of the cycle: on the first day they are plentiful, in the last days - the most meager.

Symptoms of pathological heavy and painful periods, which indicate the need to urgently consult a doctor, are:

duration more than 7 days;
pain in the lower abdomen and pelvis that does not go away on the second day and later;
general deterioration of the condition: headaches and dizziness, loss of consciousness, nosebleeds;
elevated body temperature, if inflammatory diseases have become the cause of prolonged heavy periods.

First aid at home

With heavy menstrual bleeding, it is necessary to take the following measures:

Control your psycho-emotional state, because experiences can only aggravate the situation.
Try to observe physical rest and lie down more often, while the legs should be slightly higher than the body.
Eat healthy foods, in particular foods rich in B vitamins and folic acid (nuts, bananas, legumes, tuna, beef liver). Coffee and alcohol these days are recommended to be excluded - at least in the first 4 days of menstruation.
Take vitamin complexes. Take medication prescribed by a specialist.

Special medicines that can stop the blood, such as Dicinon, will help make periods less plentiful. It is recommended to take the drug only after the approval of the doctor.

In addition, there are traditional medicine: decoctions of red raspberry leaves, comfrey, shepherd's purse. To prepare them, you need to pour a teaspoon of dry grass with a glass of boiling water and hold in a water bath for 10 minutes.

Taking drugs and herbs is not a therapy, they only relieve the symptom of heavy discharge.

If strong periods are one-time, then they may indicate non-dangerous temporary changes in the body.

The reason to seek help from specialists is abundant painful menstruation, which are repeated for several cycles in a row and do not grow thin on the 5th day of the cycle. It is important to undergo an examination, determine the cause and apply competent treatment.

Menstruation in a healthy woman without deviations in reproductive function goes like clockwork every month and with a normal amount of blood discharge. If in one of the menstrual cycles there is heavy bleeding, pain that cannot be endured without taking painkillers, then this indicates a deviation from the norm and gives a reason to visit your gynecologist.

Abundant periods are discharges of more than 80 ml per day, blood clots (if they were not observed before), severe pain in the lower abdomen and lumbar region, the number of days with discharges increases, namely days with heavy discharges.
It is important to understand that if, for no reason at all, menstruation came with obvious signs of deviation, then this signals problems. Even if the state of health has not worsened (which is extremely rare with a large blood loss), this does not mean that there is no hidden danger, both for the reproductive system and for the life of a woman.
In the treatment and removal of symptoms of any disease or deviation, the main points are timely seeking help.

Abundant monthly causes

Abundant periods with clots can also be normal if this is a feature of the body and it does not cause discomfort to a woman and does not cause a deterioration in her health, but most often this is a gross violation of the urinary or reproductive system:
1. Past abortions or miscarriages
After a woman has experienced an abortion, a cardinal failure of hormones occurs in her body. The body was preparing for motherhood and in one moment everything changed dramatically. After such stress, the body recovers within a few months to a year, and there is a very high probability of failures in the menstrual cycle, which are accompanied by clots, large blood loss and severe pain. Abundant periods with clots should be treated after abortions or miscarriages, for this you need to seek help from specialists. An experienced doctor will prescribe treatment and normalize the menstrual cycle.
2. Lack of vitamins and trace elements responsible for blood clotting
There are various reasons for the lack of vitamins: a woman can sit on a strict diet, eat poorly, or it is a seasonal lack of vitamins. In any case, it is important to take vitamins if the state of health worsens, because this does not only affect menstruation.
The main symptoms when there are very heavy periods due to a lack of micro and macro elements and vitamins are the absence of clots and excessive discharge that accompany a woman for more than 3 days.
3. Love for fermented milk products
Dairy products contain enzymes that reduce blood clotting. Due to the excessive consumption of sour-milk products, the likelihood of heavy periods is high, but not every organism falls under this criterion.
4. Oncological diseases and neoplasm in the reproductive system
This reason why heavy periods are present in the menstrual cycle is the most dangerous for a woman's life. But tumors and neoplasms can be determined in time, both by visiting a doctor and at home. The main thing is to carefully monitor the slightest changes in the body. An increase in body temperature, pain in the lower abdomen, discharge not during menstruation, an increase in the volume of the abdomen indicates that a tumor may be present. But in order not to engage in self-diagnosis of diseases, you need to visit a gynecologist, a mammologist once a year and undergo an ultrasound scan of the uterus, ovaries and appendages. If the disease is diagnosed, then you should not hope that the disease will go away by itself. The reproductive system and mammary glands in women are very susceptible to oncology and the statistics are relentless, therefore, women's health must be treated with special care.
5. Hormonal imbalance
Abundant periods with clots, when the causes in hormonal failure are already considered secondary consequences of disorders. The endocrine gland can fail due to medication or pathological conditions.

With hormonal failures, other symptoms appear, in addition to heavy periods with clots:

increased sweating;
Change in body weight (more often a woman gains excess weight);
Sudden mood swings from cheerfulness to depression in a very short time;
Sexual desire is reduced;
Hair falls out profusely.

If the above problems are also observed with the symptoms of heavy periods, then you need to visit an endocrinologist in addition to the gynecologist.

Abundant periods what to do?

With heavy periods, you definitely need to see a doctor, but if there is no such opportunity to immediately go to the doctor, then you need to take some measures so that blood loss does not increase:

We reduce the level of physical activity to a minimum.
It is better for a woman to organize bed rest so that blood loss decreases, because heavy discharge can not only cause great inconvenience for a woman, but also directly affect the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
It is necessary to exclude unnecessary sudden movements, lifting weights and hiking long distances.
Do not drink coffee, alcoholic drinks, cigarettes
All these bad habits only dilate blood vessels and increase secretions. It is necessary to refuse these products for the entire period of menstruation and consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Avoid overheating of the body
During heavy menstruation, you can not take hot baths, visit saunas and baths and swim in hot thermal springs. The fact is that high temperatures also lead to vasodilation and blood loss only increases. Overheating is especially contraindicated if a woman uses tampons. In a hot environment, dangerous microorganisms are formed in the secretions faster, which can destroy the microflora of the vagina and cause associated infections and diseases.
Do not take drugs that thin the blood (if these drugs are prescribed by a doctor for the treatment of other diseases, then you should consult a doctor)
To normalize blood flow, you need to organize the intake of vitamin C, folic acid and iron.
By following all of the above methods, you can slightly reduce blood loss, which will bring less harm to the female body. But as soon as there is an opportunity to visit a doctor or the discharge will increase, then you urgently need to go to the doctor.

For prevention, you can use folk remedies to normalize the menstrual cycle, if the failure is not associated with tumors or other diseases:

Tea with viburnum
Kalina normalizes blood flow and is considered a source of many vitamins and macronutrients.
Orange peel with honey
To prevent heavy periods, they take the peel from several oranges and grind it with honey. The bittersweet mixture is consumed half a teaspoon twice a day.
parsley seeds
A bunch of parsley seeds is poured with a glass of boiling water and taken half a glass 2 times a day.

It is better to coordinate all these methods of traditional medicine with the attending physician in advance in order to avoid stress on the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system. After all, each treatment has a positive and negative effect.

Abundant periods, hypermenorrhea or menorrhagia is a pathological condition that is characterized by prolonged regular bloody discharge from the uterus during the menstrual cycle in excess of the norm. It is worth talking about heavy periods only when menstruation lasts 7 days or more, and the amount of spotting is more than 80 ml. However, before making a diagnosis of hypermenorrhea (heavy periods), the individual characteristics of each woman's menstruation should be taken into account.

The latest statistics show that approximately one in three women of reproductive age complains about the appearance of heavy menstruation. However, it is worth noting that these statistics take into account only those women who applied to medical institutions with a similar problem.

The duties of a gynecologist include not only determining the cause of heavy bleeding, but also intelligibly explaining to you what can and should be done if menstruation is strong. Therefore, even with minor violations of the menstrual cycle, one should not delay visiting a specialist.

Why does hypermenorrhea occur?

In order to determine the exact reason why a girl or woman has a strong period, as a rule, a comprehensive examination is carried out, including a variety of modern diagnostic techniques. Quite often, it is not necessary to be limited only to a standard gynecological examination. Consider the most common causes of heavy periods:

Violation of the hormonal background. During a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone regulate the growth of the uterine lining (endometrium), which is shed during menstruation. If there is an imbalance of these hormones, then there is an increased growth of the endometrium, which leads to more abundant menstruation and the development of uterine bleeding. Most often, hormonal imbalance is observed in young girls during the first menstruation, when the menstrual cycle has not yet been established, and in menopausal women.
Functional failure of the ovaries. If there is no ovulation phase during the menstrual cycle, this leads to insufficient production of the hormone progesterone. Naturally, the resulting hormonal imbalance provokes menorrhagia and uterine bleeding.

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that can develop in women of reproductive age. Often, uterine fibroids contribute to the appearance of severe menstrual and uterine bleeding.
Polyps of the uterus are benign growths of the mucous membrane (endometrium). Most often found in women aged 25-40 years, when there is a high hormonal activity.
Adenomyosis - internal endometriosis, in which there is an overgrowth of the mucous membrane in the thickness of the muscular layer of the uterus. This pathological process often provokes severe painful uterine bleeding on critical days and is typical for middle-aged women who already have children.
Intrauterine device. Menorrhagia is considered a fairly common side effect when using this non-hormonal contraceptive. If it is established that the intrauterine device is the cause of the development of strong periods, then it is necessary to remove it as soon as possible.
Ectopic pregnancy. There are frequent cases when the cause of hypermenorrhea is the implantation (introduction) of a fertilized egg into the fallopian tube instead of the uterus.
Malignant neoplasms of the internal genital organs. There is evidence that ovarian or uterine cancer can cause very heavy periods.
Problems with blood clotting. For example, hereditary von Willebrand disease usually results in abnormal uterine bleeding during the menstrual cycle.

Medications. Certain medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and anticoagulants, are known to cause heavy periods.
Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the internal genital organs.
Psychological stress, strong emotional reactions.
Heavy physical activity, which can be associated with both professional sports and work activities.
A strict diet that does not meet the needs of the female body at all.

If you do not determine the true reason why there are very strong heavy periods, then menstrual irregularities and uterine bleeding will recur, even after a medical course of treatment.

Risk factors for hypermenorrhea

According to clinical statistics, the main responsibility for the development of menorrhagia or hypermenorrhea lies with hormonal imbalance. During a normal menstrual cycle, the release of a mature egg from the ovary stimulates the production of progesterone, one of the many functions of which is to maintain the regularity of menstruation.

If ovulation does not occur, then the lack of the hormone progesterone leads to the fact that abundant long periods begin to go. Most often, anovulatory cycles that are not accompanied by the release of a mature egg from the ovary occur among two age groups:

Teenage girls who have just started their period. Many young representatives of the beautiful half of humanity are very prone to anovulatory cycles during the first year after the first menstruation (menarche).
Mature women approaching menopause. Women between the ages of 40 and 50, due to physiological characteristics, are especially at high risk of hormonal disorders.

If you do not know for sure how to shorten your periods (critical days), which are also very plentiful, then first consult your gynecologist before taking any action.

When is it necessary to see a doctor?

To date, there is a tendency not to turn once again for help to specialists, which is at least reckless and presumptuous. Many girls and women are sure that they know what to do with heavy uterine bleeding during menstruation. Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended not to self-medicate and consult a specialist as soon as possible. Even if you manage to reduce periods at home, without eliminating the cause of the menstrual irregularity, it is likely that everything will happen again.

No matter how hard you try, it is not possible to reduce heavy bleeding during menstruation, so you should hurry to see your gynecologist.

Why you shouldn't delay visiting a doctor?

Not going to the doctor on time with prolonged menorrhagia, you run the risk of getting a number of rather serious complications that can further aggravate the current situation. If hypermenorrhea recurs and other pathological symptoms also appear, this is a reason to sound the alarm. What can you expect if you continue to neglect the help of specialists:

Iron-deficiency anemia. In most cases, moderate anemia of mild to moderate severity will be observed, which will manifest itself as pale skin, weakness, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, etc.
Severe pain in the lower abdomen. Along with heavy and prolonged periods, women may experience very painful sensations on critical days (dysmenorrhea).

First aid for hypermenorrhea

What should be done if there are very heavy periods? First of all, you should calm down and stop being nervous, since pronounced psycho-emotional excitability only contributes to increased uterine bleeding. It is better to lie down on the bed so that the legs are in a more elevated position. It is recommended to apply cold (ice, chilled foods, etc.) to the area below the abdomen.

How can you shorten your periods if they have already begun and are in full swing? One of the fastest and most effective hemostatic agents is Dicinon. Although this drug is available in pharmacies without a prescription, it should be taken only with the approval of the attending physician, who determines the dosage and frequency of administration. It should be noted that Dicinon should be used only in case of heavy bleeding during the menstrual cycle.

Another popular hemostatic drug is Vikasol. However, it is worth noting that its action is more systemic and the effect of taking it does not come as quickly as from Dicinon.

Folk remedies for hypermenorrhea

Quite often, many girls and women with heavy periods resort to traditional medicine recipes. Nevertheless, any use of folk remedies must be agreed with the doctor. What many healers recommend drinking during heavy periods:

Cuff is a medicinal plant that can effectively reduce bleeding during menstruation by reducing the smooth muscles of the uterus. In addition, it has a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect. As a rule, use the infusion of the cuff. Pour a tablespoon of crushed leaves of the plant into a glass of boiling water. Let it brew for about two hours. The resulting infusion is filtered. You need to drink half a cup before meals three times a day.

Shepherd's purse is a medicinal plant with a pronounced hemostatic effect. Its action is due to an increase in the tone of the uterus and activation of the blood coagulation system. From various bleedings, including uterine bleeding during the menstrual cycle, an infusion of a shepherd's purse is used. It is not difficult to prepare it. Pour a tablespoon of chopped dry plant into a glass of boiling water. Let it brew for half an hour. Strain and drink the resulting infusion in a tablespoon three times a day. A contraindication to the use of a shepherd's purse is all pathological conditions, accompanied by increased blood clotting, the period of bearing a child and hemorrhoids.
Comfrey. Due to the content of various useful substances, this medicinal plant has good anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, antispasmodic and antimicrobial effects. To prepare the tincture, take 2 tablespoons of comfrey root, which are infused in half a glass of alcohol for at least two weeks. Use 15 drops of tincture before meals, after diluting it in 100 ml of boiled water.
A decoction of red raspberry leaves. To reduce heavy periods, a decoction is prepared at the rate of: 2 teaspoons of crushed raspberry leaves per cup of boiling water. Drink half a glass of decoction three times a day. However, there are contraindications for women with kidney disease, liver disease, ulcers and gout.

You should never panic ahead of time, even if you have heavy periods. What to do and how to behave, the attending physician should explain to you.

The period of menstruation is very difficult for any woman. And if this condition is also accompanied by severe bleeding, then the representative of the weak may well lose all ability to work. Therefore, with abundant discharge during menstruation, it is urgent to contact a gynecologist. Delay threatens the development of serious diseases, the transition to the chronic form of existing pathologies and the degeneration of pathologically affected cells into malignant ones.

The fact is that too heavy periods, as a rule, are accompanied by a number of really unpleasant and severe symptoms that significantly worsen a woman's well-being. Such manifestations make menstruation a difficult time that the fairer sex has to deal with every month. Such negative signs can be a functional state or a signal of the occurrence of a disease.

Causes

The main impetus for the development of severe bleeding during menstruation can be:

pronounced hormonal failure;
endometriosis;
ovarian dysfunction;
polyposis;
adenomyosis;
complications after injection;
oncological diseases of the female genital area;
thrombocytopenia;
von Willebrand's disease;
side effects of taking certain pharmacological drugs;
sexually transmitted infections;
strong inflammatory process;
significant nervous strain;
physical overload;
hard work;
period ;
the first months after the start;
hereditary predisposition;
anomalies in the development of female internal genital organs;
avitaminosis;
higher number of previous abortions;
heavy, especially multiple births;
various diseases of the pelvic organs;
diseases of the endocrine system;
intoxication;
strong;
unbalanced etc.

Such reasons can cause a violation of the synthesis of estrogens and progesterone or the development of various tumor processes.

During menstruation, you need to limit the use of drugs that prevent blood clotting. When taking analgin, aspirin, diclofenac or some antihypertensive drugs, too abundant discharge is often observed.

Symptoms

Usually doctors distinguish three types of violations during critical days. Hyperpolymenorrhea is a failure that manifests itself in constant heavy bleeding during menstruation, when the amount of discharge is one hundred milliliters or more.

Menorrhagia - acyclic uterine bleeding, accompanied by many negative symptoms.

Metrorrhagia most often occurs in adolescence and pre-menopausal period. It is characterized by the presence of a large number of secretions. Menstruation usually lasts quite a long time. The menstrual cycle is irregular.

The main signs of heavy bleeding on critical days are:

the need to change pads every hour or an hour and a half;
an abundance of large clots;
and in the lower back;
general malaise;
migraine;
darkening in the eyes;
loss of consciousness;
dizziness;
pallor of the face;
severe fatigue;
shortness of breath, etc.

These symptoms are caused by profuse blood loss, discharge of large layers of the endometrium, slowing down the regeneration processes, the presence of inflammatory processes in the female genital area, the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia and impaired cardiovascular activity.

Most often, such phenomena are observed in girls of eleven to thirteen years old, who first started menstruating or in women during premenopause. Often, intense discharge on critical days is also observed in the postpartum period.

Abundant periods: what to do?

With the development of severe bleeding, it may be necessary to stop it. To do this, you should reduce or completely stop any activity, give up coffee or strong tea, and stop taking any medications other than those approved by your doctor.

It is advisable to apply ice to the lower part of the abdominal cavity several times a day. It is required to eat foods rich in ascorbic and folic acid and iron, which promote hematopoiesis and improve vascular permeability. It is also worth taking vitamins PP and K, which increase clotting. Aromatherapy can be helpful.

Abundant periods after childbirth

Sometimes after the birth of a child, a woman has severe bleeding. This usually indicates the development of any adverse processes in her internal genital area.

If the discharge is bright red, then perhaps this is not about menstruation, but about uterine bleeding. In this case, she needs urgent medical attention.

Such measures are necessary, because too heavy periods after childbirth can indicate that:

internal organs were injured;
significantly disturbed hormonal background;
tissue regeneration is too slow;
there was an ectopia of the cervix;
the processes of epithelialization of damaged areas suffer;
inflammation developed;
an infection has joined;
spikes formed, etc.

These causes provoke damage to the vessels of the uterus or impaired blood circulation in the organ. Sometimes it happens that its contractility or tone is reduced. In such cases, the blood can simply stagnate inside, pouring out then in large portions.

Abundant periods with clots

Normally, some clots may be present in menstrual blood. They are large conglomerations of formed elements or individual particles of torn uterine epithelium.

Too intense periods with the appearance of clots from time to time occur in every woman throughout her life. They appear quite rarely, but sometimes they are observed in any representative of the weaker sex, especially during the period of premenopause or the onset of the menstrual cycle in adolescence.

Especially often, clots are noted in the summer, when the load on the vessels is increased and dehydration occurs. In weather-dependent ladies, sudden changes in pressure during the off-season can also cause these symptoms.

But if there are a lot of them or they are too large, then their appearance can be triggered by pathological causes, up to the development of serious diseases.

Too intense bleeding during menstruation, accompanied by the release of clots, is a symptom of the disease. Sometimes it goes unnoticed and only this sign indicates its presence. Most often, this symptom is observed with uterine fibroids. It is usually diagnosed in women between the ages of twenty and fifty. After the onset of menopause, the tumor either disappears or no longer forms.

If the size of the clots significantly exceeds two and a half centimeters in volume, then it is urgent to pay a visit to the gynecologist. Most often, such pathological signs are a clear indication of the occurrence of endometriosis.

Usually, during its development, severe pain during menstruation, discomfort during intercourse, frequent urge to urinate, and discomfort when walking and running are noted.

Often, similar symptoms accompany adenomyosis. Then there are severe bleeding during menstruation, irregularity of the cycle and pain in the lower abdomen. There are a lot of secretions, and quite large clots are visible in them.

Abundant first periods

As already mentioned, very often teenage girls face severe manifestations of critical days. Usually at this age, an increase in the amount of blood can occur due to nervous strain, increased obesity, passion for various diets, enhanced or metabolic disorders.

In order for the child to stabilize the amount of discharge, most often a simple lifestyle correction is needed. You should reduce your overall activity, stop physical activity for a while, eat right, swim, do not lift weights and take vitamins regularly.

Surveys

In order to accurately establish the possible causes of excessively heavy periods, you need to contact a gynecologist. He will prescribe laboratory and instrumental studies, and also recommend consulting a general practitioner, endocrinologist, urologist or oncologist.

After a complete differential diagnosis, it will be possible to confidently name the cause of heavy menstruation.

The doctor will prescribe a number of diagnostic measures necessary to identify various diseases.

Usually carried out:

examination in the chair;
histological and cytological examination;
ultrasound scanning;
hysteroscopy;
separate diagnostic curettage;
salpingoscopy;
radiography;
CT scan;
Magnetic resonance imaging;
blood test for VSC and DC;
smear on microflora;
PCR diagnostics;
study of the hormonal spectrum;
clinical blood test, etc.

Such activities make it possible to exclude the development of an oncological process, identify uterine myoma or the formation of an adhesive process, diagnose hematological diseases, determine the presence of inflammation, analyze the hormonal composition of the blood, or detect the causative agent of a sexually transmitted infection.

For the most complete collection of data, it is necessary to collect an anamnesis, analyze the patient's complaints, and establish her existing and past illnesses. The doctor will also ask about the regime of work and rest, food and medications taken.

Most often, the examination reveals a hormonal imbalance that occurs in women of any age. It is usually associated with uncontrolled use of contraceptives, side effects of pharmacological drugs, or an irregular sexual life. The synthesis of estrogens also changes after childbirth or a medical abortion.

Therefore, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a specialist once a year. Those women who suffer from any gynecological diseases, are at risk or have crossed the forty-five-year milestone, should be seen by a doctor once every six months.

Even a routine examination in a chair using mirrors increases the chances of timely diagnosis of various pathologies. If in doubt, the specialist will refer you to an ultrasound scan, x-ray or other studies.

The gynecologist will be able to establish what was the impetus for the development of bleeding and prescribe the appropriate treatment. It will be conservative or surgical, depending on the identified pathology.

Drugs and medicines for heavy periods

Therapy with pharmacological agents usually aims to eliminate the reasons why the volume of blood released during menstruation is exceeded.

Depending on the underlying factor, appropriate treatment is prescribed. Medications are prescribed when functional disorders, diseases of the internal female genital area are detected, hormonal changes or a decrease in platelet synthesis.

Usually applied:

hemostatic agents;
drugs that increase the tone of the uterus;
hormones;
drugs that restore impaired metabolism;
anti-inflammatory drugs;
antispasmodics;
venotonics;
immunostimulators;
tranquilizers;
sedatives;
wound healing agents;
vitamins.

With severe hormonal disorders, preparations containing natural and synthetic estrogens are prescribed.

When slowing down the recovery processes after childbirth, abortion or gynecological operations, immunostimulants and wound healing agents are prescribed.

If an infectious process is detected, then antibiotics or antifungal drugs are needed.

Such medicines allow you to stabilize the synthesis of estrogens, reduce the volume of blood lost, increase its coagulability, eliminate the inflammatory process, strengthen the vascular wall, strengthen the body's defenses and make up for the deficiency of biologically active substances.

If conservative methods of treatment do not bring the desired results and heavy periods continue to recur, surgical intervention is recommended.

In addition, it is required to observe measures that contribute to the prevention of the development of heavy bleeding on critical days.

It is advisable to avoid conflicts, nervous shocks and experiences. You need to eat a balanced diet and drink more fluids. Smoking and alcohol should be strictly prohibited.

It is required to undergo a full planned examination of the body and, in the presence of any diseases, begin appropriate treatment.

Therefore, in order to avoid the development of bleeding, it is worth avoiding the influence of all kinds of negative causes, during menopause it is necessary to take hormones, and with youthful bleeding, strictly observe the daily routine and lead a correct lifestyle.

If you follow all the doctor's recommendations, undergo gynecological examinations on time and take appropriate medications, the menstrual cycle is completely normal. It will become regular, the volume of discharge will not exceed eighty milliliters, and the soreness will completely disappear.

Cause of heavy periods

There are a lot of reasons for the appearance of heavy periods, and all of them cannot be ignored:

benign tumors. In this case, in addition to heavy periods, there may be slight spotting in the middle of the cycle.
Taking certain hormonal drugs. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor so that he can choose an alternative for you.
Malignant neoplasms of the uterus.
Ovarian diseases with hormonal imbalance.
Adolescence. The very first periods may be more abundant and last more than 7 days. But if all subsequent menstruation is plentiful and long, this is a reason to visit a gynecologist.
The premenopausal period may be accompanied by bleeding.
inflammatory processes.
Endometriosis.
Pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancy.
Blood diseases in which there is increased bleeding.
Taking blood thinners.
Taking a hot shower, bath, sauna or bath at the beginning of menstruation.
Injury to the abdomen or birth canal.

What to do with heavy periods

Avoid strenuous exercise.
Don't lift weights.
Stop drinking strong coffee.
Do not take a hot bath.
Do not go to the bath and sauna.

Over time, heavy periods can cause anemia. In this case, you may notice that:

You got tired quickly.
You want to sleep all the time and feel lethargic, even if you slept 8-9 hours.
You often feel dizzy.
Standing up abruptly can cause you to lose consciousness.
The discharge became lighter than usual.
The skin became dry and lost its luster and elasticity.
Nails began to exfoliate and quickly break.
Hair began to fall out.
It became difficult for you to concentrate.

In all these cases, it is necessary to take a blood test and find out the level of hemoglobin and ferritin, as well as consult a doctor for the necessary treatment.

When should you call an ambulance immediately?

Abundant periods are very important to distinguish in time from uterine bleeding, in which you should immediately call an ambulance. A doctor should be called if:

Heavy bleeding began before the period of menstruation.
The blood becomes scarlet.
The bleeding started after the injury.
The flow rate continues to grow.
Bleeding started after menopause.
The pulse became weak or rapid.
The skin became pale, severe dizziness and nausea appeared.
The body was covered with sweat.

How to Stop or Reduce Bleeding Before Doctors Arrive

It is necessary to lie down and put your feet on a roller or pillow. This will help not to disturb the blood circulation in the vital organs.
Place an ice pack wrapped in a towel on your lower abdomen. Hold for 10 minutes, you can repeat after a 10-minute break.
Drink a lot. Ordinary water, sweet tea or rosehip broth will work well.

Be healthy!