Prolonged Bleeding in Menopause

If you are near menopause and bleeding profusely or are actually menopausal--having gone a full year without a period--and you resume bleeding, Dr. Frederick R. Jelovsek recommends that you have a diagnostic work-up. This should be done to determine if there is an anatomical reason for your continuous bleeding. Anatomical reasons can include submucous fibroids or polyps. The work-up can be done via a hysteroscope. In Dr. Jelovsek's opinion, this procedure should be done prior to submitting to a dilation and curettage (D&C), which is a surgical procedure and more invasive.

Considerations

• If it is determined that your bleeding is caused by dysfunctional hormonal fluctuations and not due to an anatomical reason, the bleeding can be regulated via hormone therapy. However, there are risks associated with hormone therapy, such as an increased chance of breast cancer, blood clots and heart disease.

What To Do

• According to Dr. Machelle M. Seibel, heavy and prolonged bleeding is often an indicator of impending menopause. He recommends taking a multi-vitamin on a daily basis as well as three iron tablets each day to prevent anemia. Your physician may want to do an endometrial biopsy, which is a screening for uterine cancer. The biopsy also will indicate whether the uterine lining is normal. An ultrasound may also be done.

Too Much Blood Loss

• Every woman is different when it comes to the length and heaviness of her menstrual cycle. However, the typical menstrual period will last from one to eight days. The average length is four to five days, according to Womenshealthlondon.org.uk. If your period is lasting longer than eight days, you need to discuss this with your physician.

  Being peri-menopausal is different from being fully menopausal. During peri-menopause, errant menstrual periods are frequent. Periods are likely to get out of kilter and involve too much bleeding for too long or, conversely, missed periods. After menopause, no bleeding should occur. If you are fully menopausal and resume bleeding, this warrants a trip to the doctor's office.

  Of great concern is the amount of blood that a woman loses during her period, particularly if the period is prolonged. Bleeding profusely can cause a woman to become anemic (iron deficient) and make her feel weak and lousy. It also can be a tremendous nuisance, inconvenience and embarrassment if you are bleeding through your clothes, all over your bed clothing and having to spend a fortune on pads and tampons.

Official Term: Menorrhagia

• According to the Mayo Clinic, menstrual periods that occur every 21 to 35 days are considered normal as are those that last four or five days and which produce a total blood loss of 2 to 3 Tbsp. or 30 ml to 44 ml. If you are losing 5.5 Tbsp. or 81 ml of blood during your period, this is considered menorrhagia or excessive bleeding.

Details of Menorrhagia

• Menorrhagia symptoms including saturating one or more pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours; wearing two pads or a pad and a tampon at the same time to control the bleeding; getting up in the middle of the night to change your pad and any period that lasts more than seven days. Menorrhagia also encompasses periods that cause fatigue and shortness of breath, which can indicate anemia, periods that involve passing large blood clots and a period that is so heavy that it interferes with your lifestyle.

Herbal Remedies

• According to Henriettesherbal.com, using horsetail and shepherd's purse (herbs) will help control excessive menstrual bleeding. However, the website notes that damiana, another herb, which is used to increase the libido, should be avoided because it increases blood flow to the genital region. Black cohosh should not be taken because it can encourage contractions and make your flow heavier. However, if you take it before your period it is reportedly helpful in eliminating PMS symptoms. Red raspberry leaf tincture is known to prevent heavy menstrual flow. Consult with a herbalist.

See Your Doc

• If your menstrual period is lasting too long, and particularly if it's too heavy, consult with your physician. Some women take Ibuprofen to slow their flow. Ask your doctor about this type of therapy. Avoid taking aspirin because this will make you bleed more because it thins the blood.