Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia, also called heavy menstrual bleeding, is heavy menstrual blood loss that affects a woman's activities and quality of life. Many women have heavy periods, and they can be normal, for instance when menstruation begins, after pregnancy or approaching menopause. Causes include fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian conditions, conditions that make bleeding more likely, such as Von Willebrand disease, and some anticoagulant or chemotherapy medicines; rarely it signals womb cancer. Features include frequent pad or tampon changes, using two products together, periods lasting over seven days, large clots, soaked clothing or bedding, tiredness and breathlessness. Assessment looks for an underlying cause, with blood tests for conditions such as iron deficiency anaemia. Options include some contraceptive methods, tranexamic acid, anti-inflammatory painkillers, and specialist procedures such as endometrial ablation, fibroid removal or hysterectomy.

Seek urgent care for fever with flank pain, inability to pass urine, or blood in the urine. See a doctor for burning on urination that lasts more than two days, urinary symptoms that keep returning, or any change in urinary flow in men over 50. Call the local emergency number for any symptom that is sudden and severe. This page is a reference for healthcare professionals and does not replace an assessment.