How to Treat Prolonged Menstruation and What are the Causes of It

How to Treat Prolonged Menstruation and What are the Causes of It









In general, women have a regular menstrual cycle that could last anytime from 28 to 35 days. This is not a fixed range, however, as there are women who have cycles of less than 28 days and more than 35 months. Also, the menstruation length is at an average of 3 to 5 days. Still, the normal cycle and menstruation lengths will vary among women.

Prolonged Menstruation

• A woman will have her specific cycle length and menstruation length. Thus, one woman may experience a 28-day cycle with 3 days of menstruation while another woman could have a 35-day cycle with 7 days of menstruation.
  
  
  Thus, the basis for diagnosing prolonged menstruation is when it is much longer than what is normal for that woman.


• Prolonged menstruation may also be a sign that menopause is about to be experienced. This is the period called peri-menopause. Often, the woman will experience longer cycle lengths than what she is used to.

Prolonged Menstruation Causes

There are a number of reasons why prolonged menstruation occurs. The following are possible:

• Pregnancy complications


• Use of an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control


• Fibroids and cysts


• Endometrial cancer


• Uterine fibroids


• Polycystic ovary syndrome


• Physiological causes. These include disturbances in the woman’s hormones, especially during the peri-menopause period.
  
  
  


• Psychological causes. These include grief, fear, overexertion, stress, or fatigue/malaise that affects the equilibrium of the body.


• Low levels of calcium can lead to profuse bleeding


• Low levels of thyroid or pituitary function can cause heavy or prolonged period.


• Drugs like steroids, anticoagulants, can cause prolonged bleeding


• Anovulation


• Polyps in the endometrium


• Bleeding disorders such as Von Willebrand disease


• Recent trauma, surgery or other uterine procedure


• Pelvic inflammatory disease or other infection


• Thickening of the uterine wall or endometrial hyperplasia


• Changes in birth control pills or hormonal treatments/therapy

Prolonged Menstruation Treatment

Finding the best treatment for the condition will depend on the underlying cause. The patient may have to do the following:

• Eat a healthy, well balanced diet. This can help promote wellness which, in turn, could help in regaining proper hormonal balance.


• Exercise is also very important.


• If the condition is caused by stress and anxiety, avoid stress and anxiety factors. If these are unavoidable, try meditation and yoga.


• Also, inform the doctor of medications being taken by the patient. Some medications actually promote bleeding, including some very common over-the-counter medications