What is menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)?

4 May 2021

It is a pathology characterized by intense or long-lasting menstrual bleeding that prevents you from performing your daily activities normally due to the amount of blood you lose and the cramps you suffer. Menorrhagia can be caused by any of the following reasons:

Adenomyosis.
Uterine cancer.
Problems during pregnancy.
Hormonal alterations.
Ovarian dysfunction.
Having an intrauterine device.
Kidney and liver diseases.
Uterine fibroids.
Polyps.
Von Willebrand disease.
Use of anti-inflammatories, anticoagulants, or hormones.

Signs and symptoms Menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)

The characteristic symptoms consist of:

Tiredness.
Anemia.
Release of large blood clots.
Completely wet feminine sanitary pads several times throughout the day.
Trouble breathing.
Reduction of daily activities due to heavy bleeding.
Have bleeding for more than a week.

If you suffer from heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding, you must visit your doctor for evaluation, since menorrhagia can trigger other conditions, such as anemia and severe, disabling pain.

Diagnosis and treatment Menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and request blood tests to detect possible iron deficiency, blood coagulation, or thyroid problems, as well as the following tests:

Ultrasound.
Hysteroscopy.
Endometrial tissue sample to analyze in the laboratory.
Pap smear.
Sonohysterogram.

Once your doctor confirms the diagnosis, the indicated treatment will depend on the cause and severity, as well as your general health conditions, but usually includes:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce bleeding and menstrual cramps.
Iron supplements.
Birth control pills.
Progesterone.
Any of the following surgical procedures:
Endometrial ablation: which consists of removing the endometrium using laser, radiofrequency, or heat.
Concentrated ultrasound surgery: ultrasound waves seek to destroy the fibroid tissue.
Curettage: it is the most common. It consists of removing tissue from the uterus lining to reduce menstrual bleeding.
Uterine artery embolization: to reduce the size of uterine fibroids by blocking the uterine arteries and reducing blood supply.
Hysterectomy: to remove the uterus and cervix.
Myomectomy: to remove abundant and large fibroids, either by laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, or open surgery.

Comprehensive women’s health is our priority at the Women’s Center, so we offer services focused on women in all their chronological stages with the highest standards of care to improve their quality of life, through a wide range of prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up services.

Specialists Menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)

It has three specialized units:

Related centers and departments Menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)

Women’s Center
Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

ginefem.com
mayoclinic.org
medlineplus.gov
msdmanuals.com
topdoctors.es
medigraphic.com
García HA, Martínez TR, Machado AT, et al. Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en pacientes con menorragia. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter. 2016;32(2):279-281.
Morales-Carmona F, Pimentel-Nieto D, Bustos-López H. Percepción del ciclo menstrual y malestar psicológico en una muestra de mujeres mexicanas. Rev Invest Clin. 2008;60(6):478-485.
Jaramillo JLI, Martínez SLM, Tabares RMD. El papel de la enfermedad de von Willebrand en la hemorragia uterina anormal. Revista Cubana de Obstetricia y Ginecología. 2019;45(4):1-11.
Carranza-Lira S, Romero-Cuadra IA. Frecuencia de presentación y características del dolor pélvico crónico en la consulta ginecológica. Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2018;56(3):226-230.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the Saludora Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)?

Signs and symptoms Menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)

Diagnosis and treatment Menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)

Specialists Menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)

Related centers and departments Menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Menorrhagia (heavy menstruation)