I’d like to shed light on a period-related condition that is often overlooked or misdiagnosed by doctors. Today’s topic is menorrhagia, a medical term used to describe excessively heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Many individuals have shared their stories with me about experiencing abnormal periods, including skipped months, followed by extremely heavy bleeding. In such cases, these women often endure seven consecutive days of menstrual cycles, accompanied by excessive bleeding that requires frequent changes of sanitary pads or tampons. Unfortunately, this condition causes significant discomfort and disrupts daily activities.

Due to its relatively low prevalence, menorrhagia is often overlooked or downplayed by healthcare professionals. Consequently, women experiencing heavy bleeding might be misdiagnosed or dismissed, leaving them without a proper understanding of their discomfort. It’s understandable why many downplay their symptoms, as heavy bleeding is sometimes considered a common occurrence. However, it is important to recognise that heavy menstrual bleeding can have underlying causes that require attention.

The possible causes of menorrhagia can be categorised into three groups: uterine-related problems, hormone-related problems, and other illnesses or disorders. Uterine fibroids, non-cancerous tumours growing inside or outside the uterine wall, can lead to heavy bleeding or painful periods. Uterine polyps, which are overgrowths of endometrial tissue, the lining of the uterus, can also cause similar symptoms. Irregular ovulation, resulting from hormonal disruptions, can lead to a thickening of the uterine lining, causing heavy bleeding during menstruation. This irregular ovulation can occur during puberty, perimenopause or due to factors such as weight loss, stress, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or hypothyroidism.

If you are experiencing heavy bleeding, these factors might be the underlying causes. Consequently, you may exhibit symptoms such as a heavy menstrual flow that soaks through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours, requiring multiple period products simultaneously, changing pads or tampons during the night; menstruation lasting more than a week; passing blood clots the size of a quarter or larger; symptoms of anemia (fatigue and shortness of breath); constant lower abdominal and pelvic pain; and an inability to perform regular daily activities due to bleeding.

Fortunately, there are treatments available for menorrhagia. The appropriate treatment depends on the underlying cause, severity of symptoms, and the individual’s preferences. It may involve hormonal therapies like birth control pills or intrauterine devices (IUDs) releasing progestin, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce bleeding and pain. In severe cases, surgical options such as endometrial ablation (removal of the uterine lining) or hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) might be considered.

Therefore, I encourage all women not to dismiss their condition, and to seek medical advice. Regular visits to the doctor, including routine Pap smears, are important for maintaining gynaecological health.

* Frieda Mukufa’s lifestyle section in the New Era newspaper concentrates on women-related issues and parenting. She also specialises in editing research proposals, proofreading as well as content- creation.

- etuholefrieda@gmail.com