Heavy menstrual bleeding is an often overlooked condition affecting many women, disrupting their daily lives and requiring better awareness and treatment options. Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a significant yet often overlooked issue affecting women at various stages of life. It can manifest during puberty due to ovulatory dysfunction (puberty menorrhagia), or later in life during reproductive years due to conditions like fibroids, adenomyosis, endometriosis, or polyps caused by estrogen dominance.
Pregnancy complications may also contribute to heavy bleeding. Dr. Rashmi Shriya, HOD of Laparoscopic Gynaecology at MASSH (Minimal Access Smart Surgery Hospital), shares insights on this issue, stating: "Heavy bleeding may also occur in premenopausal women due to endometrial dysfunction or in postmenopausal women as postmenopausal bleeding, which can be alarming and possibly linked to uterine or cervical cancer.
" To properly evaluate HMB, it’s important to gather a detailed history, perform clinical examinations, and run necessary blood tests and imaging. Key Indicators of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (HMB) Heavy bleeding can be subjective, so doctors may ask these questions to determine if HMB is present: - Does the bleeding disrupt daily activities or significantly affect quality of life? - Are periods lasting more than seven days? - Is the menstrual flow heavy enough to require frequent changes of tampons or pads? - Are clots larger than a coin size present? - Is there a need.