How to Treat Prolonged Menstruation and What are the Causes of It

In general, women have a regular menstrual cycle that could last anytime from 28 to 35 days. This is not a fixed range, however, as there are women who have cycles of less than 28 days and more than 35 months. Also, the menstruation length is at an average of 3 to 5 days.

Still, the normal cycle and menstruation lengths will vary among women.

Prolonged Menstruation

  • A woman will have her specific cycle length and menstruation length. Thus, one woman may experience a 28-day cycle with 3 days of menstruation while another woman could have a 35-day cycle with 7 days of menstruation. Thus, the basis for diagnosing prolonged menstruation is when it is much longer than what is normal for that woman.
  • Prolonged menstruation may also be a sign that menopause is about to be experienced. This is the period called peri-menopause. Often, the woman will experience longer cycle lengths than what she is used to.

Prolonged Menstruation Causes

There are a number of reasons why prolonged menstruation occurs. The following are possible:

  • Pregnancy complications
  • Use of an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control
  • Fibroids and cysts
  • Endometrial cancer
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Physiological causes.
    These include disturbances in the woman’s hormones, especially during the peri-menopause period.
  • Psychological causes. These include grief, fear, overexertion, stress, or fatigue/malaise that affects the equilibrium of the body.
  • Low levels of calcium can lead to profuse bleeding
  • Low levels of thyroid or pituitary function can cause heavy or prolonged period.
  • Drugs like steroids, anticoagulants, can cause prolonged bleeding
  • Anovulation
  • Polyps in the endometrium
  • Bleeding disorders such as Von Willebrand disease
  • Recent trauma, surgery or other uterine procedure
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease or other infection
  • Thickening of the uterine wall or endometrial hyperplasia
  • Changes in birth control pills or hormonal treatments/therapy

Prolonged Menstruation Treatment

Finding the best treatment for the condition will depend on the underlying cause. The patient may have to do the following:

  • Eat a healthy, well balanced diet. This can help promote wellness which, in turn, could help in regaining proper hormonal balance.
  • Exercise is also very important.
  • If the condition is caused by stress and anxiety, avoid stress and anxiety factors. If these are unavoidable, try meditation and yoga.
  • Also, inform the doctor of medications being taken by the patient. Some medications actually promote bleeding, including some very common over-the-counter medications

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