Heavy Periods Specialist

What are heavy periods?

A heavy period is one where your bleeding lasts more than seven days, or where the flow soaks through one or more pads or tampons every hour for several hours in a row.

Blood clots the size of a quarter or larger in your flow are another sign of a heavy period.

What causes heavy periods?

Heavy periods may be linked to an underlying health condition or may be caused by other issues, including but not limited to:

• Fibroids or polyps
• Endometriosis
• An intrauterine device (IUD)
• Blood-thinning medication
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Cancer

If you don’t ovulate regularly, you also might experience heavy periods because your endometrium (the lining of the uterus) can become too thick. This condition is common during puberty and before menopause.

Adenomyosis is another cause of heavy periods. This is a condition where your endometrium grows into your uterine wall.

Other causes of heavy periods include those related to pregnancy, such as a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. 

Should I see a doctor for heavy periods?

It’s a good idea to visit Prescott Women's Clinic because heavy periods are sometimes a sign of an underlying health condition. Your provider diagnoses your condition by performing a physical exam, including a pelvic exam. They may recommend lab tests, an ultrasound, or other diagnostic tests to pinpoint the source of the problem.

How are heavy periods treated?

Your Prescott Women's Clinic practitioner recommends a treatment plan based on your diagnosis. They may recommend hormonal birth control to manage heavy periods due to:

• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Uterine fibroids
• Ovulation disorders

Other medications may help to lighten your menstrual flow, help make periods more regular, or even stop bleeding altogether. If medications aren’t helping, your practitioner may recommend a procedure called endometrial ablation.

What is endometrial ablation?

Endometrial ablation is an outpatient procedure that removes the endometrium to treat heavy periods. The treatment may lighten your period, or you may stop having a period entirely. 

However, endometrial ablation makes pregnancy unlikely and prone to complications, so it may not be the right procedure for you if you want to have children.

You don’t need to suffer from heavy periods when the experienced providers at Prescott Women's Clinic are available to diagnose and treat your condition. Call today or book a consultation online.