Dysfunctional menstruation and heavy bleeding during menstruation are typically caused by hormonal

Dysfunctional menstruation and heavy bleeding during menstruation are typically caused by hormonal imbalances but may also occur because of previous complications with pregnancy, illness, or infection. Dysfunctional menstruation does not mean bleeding that is caused by miscarriage, fibroids, cervical or uterine cancer, or anemia. There are two kinds of dysfunctional menstruation resulting in heavy bleeding:

• Anovulatory bleeding, which is caused by decreased progesterone levels, which results in the egg not being released regularly if at all. Decreased progesterone levels can result in heavy and irregular menstrual bleeding. This condition is most common in women younger than 20 or older than 40.
• Ovulatory bleeding, which occurs in about ten percent of women while they are ovulating, occurs in spite of normal progesterone levels. The causes of this type of dysfunctional menstruation are not yet fully understood.

Symptoms

The following symptoms may be indicative of dysfunctional menstruation:

• A menstrual cycle that is more frequent than every 21 days or more infrequent than every 35 days
• Very heavy bleeding, passing large clots or saturating a large pad every hour for eight or more hours; blood loss of more than 80 mL per cycle
• Menstrual bleeding that lasts more than a week per cycle.

Treatment

There are several treatment options available for dysfunctional menstruation. The kind of treatment necessary depends on whether the cycle needs to be returned to normal, menstrual bleeding needs to be reduced, or both. Occasionally, eliminating the menstrual cycle altogether is the best option. Treatment options include:

• Hormone treatments to balance progesterone levels in order to prevent dysfunctional growth and breakdown of the endometrium. Excessive menstrual bleeding is commonly caused by overgrowth and irregular breakdown of the endometrium, particularly among women with irregular ovulation. .
• A temporary course of estrogen can also stop acute heavy bleeding. For a longer course of treatment, a progestin birth control pill can regulate the menstrual cycle, reduce bleeding and decrease menstrual cramps.
• The Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device releases a synthetic form of progesterone into the uterus, and both prevents pregnancy and reduces menstrual bleeding. There are numerous side effects to this IUD, and you should make sure you fully understand them before choosing this option.
• In certain rare cases, patients may be prescribed medication to stop the production of estrogen and halt menstruation altogether. Medications can have serious side effects, however.

At Rocky Mountain Fertility Center, we are committed to promoting women’s health and assisting  with conditions including dysfunctional menstruation. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.