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Irregular and Heavy Periods Doctor
Irregular and heavy periods are common but you shouldn’t accept them as normal.
Both conditions can signal an underlying health problem that should be treated to prevent serious problems from developing. You can count on the extensive experience of the doctors at Rosh Maternal & Fetal Medicine to identify the cause and effectively treat irregular and heavy periods. If you have any questions about your menstrual periods, call their office in the Midtown East area of New York City, or schedule an appointment online.
Irregular and Heavy Periods Q & A
Q.
What causes irregular menstrual periods?
A.
Menstruation typically occurs every 21-35 days and lasts for seven days or less. Some women never know for sure when their period will start within that range, while others can pinpoint the day it will start each month, but it’s normal to experience some variation from cycle to cycle.
Irregular periods can be caused by emotional stress and sickness. They may also be due to underlying health problems, so it’s important to schedule a pelvic exam if your irregular periods last for a few months. Some of the possible causes include:
- Primary ovarian insufficiency
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Diabetes
- Birth control pills
- Certain medications
- Perimenopause
Q.
When is your period too heavy?
A.
Whether you’re already worried about heavy periods or you’re not sure whether your period is heavy enough for concern, please don’t hesitate to talk with your doctor at Rosh Maternal & Fetal Medicine.
Your periods are too heavy when you have one or more of the following:
- Bleeding that lasts longer than seven days
- Bleeding that soaks through one or more tampons or pads every hour for several hours in a row
- Needing to wear more than one pad at a time
- Needing to change pads or tampons during the night
- Bleeding contains blood clots the size of a quarter or larger
Q.
What causes heavy periods?
A.
Heavy periods are often caused by a gynecologic condition that should be treated such as:
- Uterine fibroids and polyps
- Endometriosis or adenomyosis
- Gynecologic cancers
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Irregular ovulation due to perimenopause, polycystic ovary syndrome, or hypothyroidism
Q.
How are irregular and heavy periods treated?
A.
Irregular and heavy periods may be treated with a variety of medications, depending on the underlying cause of the problem. Hormonal birth control methods lighten menstrual flow and regulate periods, so they often help with ovulation problems, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and fibroids. Other medications can stop your menstrual cycle and reduce heavy menstrual bleeding.
Your doctor may recommend minimally-invasive surgery when medications don’t help or when ultrasound or other diagnostic procedures show large fibroids or polyps. Common surgical procedures include:
- Endometrial ablation: removes uterine lining to stop or reduce bleeding
- Uterine artery embolization: shrinks fibroids
- Myomectomy: removes fibroids
- Hysterectomy: partial or complete removal of the uterus’
Come visit your Manhattan OBGYN.
