These Causes of Prolonged Menstruation and How to Overcome It

Prolonged menstruation occurs if menstrual bleeding lasts more than seven days. Although each woman has a different duration and amount of menstrual bleeding, generally normal menstruation ranges from two to seven days. Medically, menstruation that exceeds one week can be classified in a condition called menorrhagia. With appropriate treatment, these complaints can generally be addressed, although they still need to be watched out for, because they can be caused by more serious health problems.

Recognize Various Causes of Prolonged Menstruation

In some cases, the cause of prolonged menstruation is not always known. However, there are some things that are known to cause prolonged menstruation, namely:

• Hormonal imbalance

If there is a hormonal imbalance in the body, excessive endometrial tissue decay can occur, causing excessive menstrual bleeding. Conditions such as overweight (obesity), PCOS, and thyroid disorders can trigger hormonal imbalances.

• Impaired ovarian function

In ovarian disorders, your body may not produce enough progesterone, which can cause hormonal imbalances and cause prolonged menstruation.

• Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign, non-cancerous tumors that attach to the uterine wall. Fibroids can cause bleeding in large quantities and prolonged accompanied by pain during menstruation.

• Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue, which is tissue in the inner lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis can cause bleeding, cramps or abnormal pain before and during menstruation.

• Pelvic inflammation

Pelvic inflammation, also known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), is an infection that causes inflammation in the female reproductive system. Pelvic inflammation can result from risky sexual activity (changing partners or having unprotected sex), a history of abortion or miscarriage, and the use of spiral birth control (IUD). This inflammation causes symptoms of pain in the pelvic area and lower abdomen, and can cause prolonged menstruation.

Other causes of prolonged menstruation include cervical cancer, cervical cancer, the influence of drugs, such as using birth control pills, or blood thinning drugs. A person suffering from blood disorders, may also experience this complaint.

Diagnose Causes of Prolonged Menstruation

If your menstrual cycle is changing, you should record accurately when your menstruation begins and ends, including the various complaints that accompany. Your doctor will probably ask about your menstrual cycle and your medical history before taking prolonged menstrual treatment. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor can provide general physical examination recommendations, including pelvic examination and pap smears. In addition, an ultrasound examination can be done to give a quick picture of the condition of the uterus, ovaries and pelvis. If deemed necessary, the doctor will also recommend an endometrial biopsy examination to take tissue samples from your uterus for further examination.

Efforts to Overcome Prolonged Menstruation

Handling is done to overcome prolonged menstruation, will be adjusted to complaints and physical condition of the patient, along with medical conditions as the cause. Drugs that can be given to treat prolonged menstruation include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. In addition, tranexamic acid can also be given to control bleeding. In some conditions the doctor will provide hormonal therapy, to balance the hormone conditions and overcome prolonged menstruation. Because prolonged menstruation can cause complications such as anemia and discomfort, you should not be allowed to drag on. Consult a doctor immediately if you experience this condition. Likewise, the consumption of drugs, it should be done based on doctor's advice. Living a healthy lifestyle, maintaining an ideal body weight, and getting enough rest can help recovery from this condition.