What is menorrhagia?
Menorrhagia is heavy menstrual bleeding. During a typical menstrual period, women lose approximately three tablespoons of blood over four to five days. However, people with menorrhagia may experience bleeding lasting longer than seven days or heavy bleeding that requires them to change their tampon or pad more than once an hour for several hours in a row.
Heavy menstrual bleeding might be common, with about one-third of women seeking treatment for it, but it isn't normal. It can disrupt your life and may indicate a more serious health condition. If you’re experiencing menorrhagia, talk with your women’s health specialist to find a solution to improve your quality of life.
Menorrhagia symptoms
It can be difficult to identify menorrhagia based on whether you have “heavy” bleeding because every person defines it a little differently.
You may have menorrhagia if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Doubling up on pads to keep from leaking
- Feeling exhausted or short of breath as a result of blood loss
- Heavy menstrual bleeding with clots the size of a quarter or larger
- Heavy menstrual flow that disrupts your life
- Needing to change sanitary pads or tampons overnight
- Periods that last longer than seven days
- Soaking through one or more pads or tampons hourly for several consecutive hours
When to see a doctor
If heavy menstrual bleeding interferes with your daily activities and causes you significant discomfort, talk with your OBGYN or primary care provider. Regularly losing excessive blood can significantly impact your health and well-being.
Your doctor can help find out why you are bleeding heavily. As some causes can be serious health issues, it’s best to check your symptoms for peace of mind.
What causes heavy menstrual bleeding?
Sometimes, the cause of heavy periods is unknown. However, several conditions can contribute to this issue, including:
Hormone imbalances
The hormones your body produces, like estrogen and progesterone, regulate your menstrual cycle and the heaviness of your periods. Imbalances in these hormones can cause the endometrial lining to build up excessively, leading to heavy bleeding.
Conditions that disrupt hormone production, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), anovulation and thyroid disease, can interfere with ovulation.
Excess body weight can also affect hormone production and contribute to heavy periods. Discuss your ideal body weight with your healthcare provider to see if it may be a factor.
How is menorrhagia diagnosed?
To diagnose menorrhagia, you may have a physical exam, including a pelvic exam, and lab tests. These may include a pregnancy test and tests for certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Depending on your symptoms and age, additional tests may also be required.
Menorrhagia treatment
Excessive menstrual bleeding isn’t something you have to live with. Multiple treatment options can help alleviate bleeding and provide relief from other symptoms.
The treatment your women’s health provider recommends will depend on the causes of your bleeding.
Medications
Initial treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding often involves medications, such as:
- Anti-inflammatory medications: Help reduce pain associated with periods
- Antifibrinolytics: Slow blood clot breakdown, reducing heavy flows
- Contraceptives:Especially IUDs, birth control pills and others, can regulate menstruation and reduce bleeding
- Desmopressin nasal spray: Helps stop bleeding for people with inherited bleeding disorders such as mild hemophilia and von Willebrand disease
- Drug-releasing intrauterine contraception: Regulates menstruation and reduces bleeding
- Hormone therapy : Reduces bleeding for women going through perimenopause
- Iron supplements: Treat anemia caused by replacing some iron lost through excessive bleeding
Find a specialized care for menorrhagia
The women’s health team at Baylor Scott & White is here to help you manage heavy menstrual bleeding. We offer several locations for comprehensive diagnostic and treatment options in North and Central Texas. We help you get care at a convenient location that fits your needs.
1400 8th Ave , Fort Worth, TX, 76104
1400 8th Ave , Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Accepting walk-ins
2608 Brockton Dr , Austin, TX, 78758
2608 Brockton Dr , Austin, TX, 78758
Not accepting walk-ins
604 US 290 , Brenham, TX, 77833
604 US 290 , Brenham, TX, 77833
Not accepting walk-ins
910 E Whitestone Blvd , Cedar Park, TX, 78613
910 E Whitestone Blvd , Cedar Park, TX, 78613
Not accepting walk-ins
800 Scott and White Dr , College Station, TX, 77845
800 Scott and White Dr , College Station, TX, 77845
Not accepting walk-ins
2600 E Pflugerville Pkwy Bldg 1, Ste 200, Pflugerville, TX, 78660
2600 E Pflugerville Pkwy Bldg 1, Ste 200, Pflugerville, TX, 78660
Not accepting walk-ins
2600 E Pflugerville Pkwy Building 2, Pflugerville, TX, 78660
2600 E Pflugerville Pkwy Building 2, Pflugerville, TX, 78660
Not accepting walk-ins
302 University Blvd , Round Rock, TX, 78665
302 University Blvd , Round Rock, TX, 78665
Not accepting walk-ins
1402 W Ave H , Temple, TX, 76504
1402 W Ave H , Temple, TX, 76504
Accepting walk-ins
2401 S 31st St , Temple, TX, 76508
2401 S 31st St , Temple, TX, 76508
Not accepting walk-ins
1713 SW H K Dodgen Loop Bldg II, Ste 100, Temple, TX, 76502
1713 SW H K Dodgen Loop Bldg II, Ste 100, Temple, TX, 76502
Not accepting walk-ins
5245 W US Hwy 290 Service Rd , Austin, TX, 78735
5245 W US Hwy 290 Service Rd , Austin, TX, 78735
Accepting walk-ins
700 Medical Pkwy , Brenham, TX, 77833
700 Medical Pkwy , Brenham, TX, 77833
Accepting walk-ins
5330 Overpass Rd , Buda, TX, 78610
5330 Overpass Rd , Buda, TX, 78610
Accepting walk-ins
12505 Lebanon Rd , Frisco, TX, 75035
12505 Lebanon Rd , Frisco, TX, 75035
Accepting walk-ins
700 Scott and White Dr , College Station, TX, 77845
700 Scott and White Dr , College Station, TX, 77845
Accepting walk-ins
5601 Warren Pkwy , Frisco, TX, 75034
5601 Warren Pkwy , Frisco, TX, 75034
Accepting walk-ins
7600 Better Way , Frisco, TX, 75033
7600 Better Way , Frisco, TX, 75033
Accepting walk-ins
1650 W College St , Grapevine, TX, 76051
1650 W College St , Grapevine, TX, 76051
Accepting walk-ins
100 Hillcrest Medical Blvd , Waco, TX, 76712
100 Hillcrest Medical Blvd , Waco, TX, 76712
Accepting walk-ins
1901 N MacArthur Blvd , Irving, TX, 75061
1901 N MacArthur Blvd , Irving, TX, 75061
Accepting walk-ins
6800 Scenic Dr , Rowlett, TX, 75088
6800 Scenic Dr , Rowlett, TX, 75088
Accepting walk-ins
100 Medical Pkwy , Lakeway, TX, 78738
100 Medical Pkwy , Lakeway, TX, 78738
Accepting walk-ins
810 W State Hwy 71 , Marble Falls, TX, 78654
810 W State Hwy 71 , Marble Falls, TX, 78654
Accepting walk-ins
5252 W University Dr Highway 380 at Lake Forest Drive, McKinney, TX, 75071
5252 W University Dr Highway 380 at Lake Forest Drive, McKinney, TX, 75071
Accepting walk-ins
2600 E Pflugerville Pkwy Bldg 1, Ste 100, Pflugerville, TX, 78660
2600 E Pflugerville Pkwy Bldg 1, Ste 100, Pflugerville, TX, 78660
Accepting walk-ins
4700 Alliance Blvd , Plano, TX, 75093
4700 Alliance Blvd , Plano, TX, 75093
Accepting walk-ins
300 University Blvd , Round Rock, TX, 78665
300 University Blvd , Round Rock, TX, 78665
Accepting walk-ins
2401 S 31st St , Temple, TX, 76508
2401 S 31st St , Temple, TX, 76508
Accepting walk-ins
2400 N Interstate 35E , Waxahachie, TX, 75165
2400 N Interstate 35E , Waxahachie, TX, 75165
Accepting walk-ins
120 Hillcrest Medical Blvd Office Building 2, Ste 201-2, Waco, TX, 76712
120 Hillcrest Medical Blvd Office Building 2, Ste 201-2, Waco, TX, 76712
Not accepting walk-ins
4461 Coit Rd Ste 205, Frisco, TX, 75035
4461 Coit Rd Ste 205, Frisco, TX, 75035
Not accepting walk-ins
16050 Everwell Ln Professional Pavilion I, Ste 200, Frisco, TX, 75033
16050 Everwell Ln Professional Pavilion I, Ste 200, Frisco, TX, 75033
Not accepting walk-ins
1631 Lancaster Dr Ste 370, Grapevine, TX, 76051
1631 Lancaster Dr Ste 370, Grapevine, TX, 76051
Not accepting walk-ins
1005 W Ralph Hall Pkwy Ste 115, Rockwall, TX, 75032
1005 W Ralph Hall Pkwy Ste 115, Rockwall, TX, 75032
Not accepting walk-ins
9500 Lakeview Pkwy Ste 100, Rowlett, TX, 75088
9500 Lakeview Pkwy Ste 100, Rowlett, TX, 75088
Not accepting walk-ins
2460 N Interstate 35E Ste 225, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
2460 N Interstate 35E Ste 225, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
Not accepting walk-ins
9101 N Central Expy Ste 250, Dallas, TX, 75231
9101 N Central Expy Ste 250, Dallas, TX, 75231
Not accepting walk-ins
907 Mountain Lion Cir , Harker Heights, TX, 76548
907 Mountain Lion Cir , Harker Heights, TX, 76548
Not accepting walk-ins
2405 S Clear Creek Rd , Killeen, TX, 76549
2405 S Clear Creek Rd , Killeen, TX, 76549
Not accepting walk-ins
200 Medical Pkwy , Lakeway, TX, 78738
200 Medical Pkwy , Lakeway, TX, 78738
Not accepting walk-ins
800 W State Hwy 71 , Marble Falls, TX, 78654
800 W State Hwy 71 , Marble Falls, TX, 78654
Accepting walk-ins
213 Millcreek Dr Ste 190, Salado, TX, 76571
213 Millcreek Dr Ste 190, Salado, TX, 76571
Not accepting walk-ins
4020 Junius St , Dallas, TX, 75246
4020 Junius St , Dallas, TX, 75246
Not accepting walk-ins
530 Clara Barton Blvd Ste 100, Garland, TX, 75042
530 Clara Barton Blvd Ste 100, Garland, TX, 75042
Not accepting walk-ins
3600 Gaston Ave Wadley Tower, Ste 1158, Dallas, TX, 75246
3600 Gaston Ave Wadley Tower, Ste 1158, Dallas, TX, 75246
Not accepting walk-ins
2460 N Interstate 35E Ste 165, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
2460 N Interstate 35E Ste 165, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
Not accepting walk-ins
3500 Gaston Ave , Dallas, TX, 75246
3500 Gaston Ave , Dallas, TX, 75246
Accepting walk-ins