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The medical name for heavy bleeding during your period is menorrhagia. Because the word “heavy” is subjective, you may not be aware you have menorrhagia, but you are probably very aware of how inconvenient and disruptive it can be to your life.
Dr. Parisa Pourzand has the skills and knowledge to investigate and identify the cause of your heavy bleeding and to suggest a treatment plan. If you think that your bleeding may be abnormally heavy, don’t ignore it. It could be a symptom of an underlying problem.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heavy bleeding is bleeding that lasts more than seven days, or that requires you to change your pad or tampon every two hours or less. Additionally, if you pass clots that are as big or bigger than a quarter, it qualifies as heavy bleeding.
Besides disrupting your life, heavy bleeding can also lead to anemia, which can leave you feeling exhausted. You may find yourself inconvenienced, annoyed, and also too tired to do much!
There are many potential causes of heavy bleeding during your period. Considering the frequency and timing of your menorrhagia may help narrow down the potential causes.
For example, if you have heavy bleeding suddenly, and for just one month, it could be related to a problem with pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is one that happens outside your uterus, and can’t be sustained. It causes heavy bleeding and terrible cramping.
A miscarriage could also cause heavy bleeding. If you’re not aware you’re pregnant a miscarriage may well seem like an unusally heavy period.
Another possibility could be related to medication. If you recently started taking a new medication, especially a blood-thinner, you may have heavier bleeding than you had before.
Similarly, if you have very heavy bleeding on the first day, but then things are more normal, it could be related to medication. Hormonal birth control can bring about heavy bleeding on the first day.
If you have heavy bleeding every month, it’s probably not due to pregnancy or medication changes. Some of the potential causes include:
There’s a big difference between fibroids, which are not usually cancerous and can be completely harmless, and cancer. That’s why it’s important for you to see Dr. Pourzand for an evaluation to identify the cause of your bleeding.
You’re welcome to schedule an appointment at either location, in Glendale or Los Angeles, using our convenient online scheduling. Or, you can simply call the location that works best for you and we’ll be happy to make your appointment.
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