Causes, When to Seek Help, Treatment, and More

If you experience periods that last longer than seven days, see your doctor. It may be a sign of a serious underlying health condition that needs to be addressed.

Generally, a period lasts between three to seven days. A menstrual period that lasts longer than seven days is considered a long period.

Your doctor may refer to a period that lasts longer than a week as menorrhagia. You may also be diagnosed with menorrhagia if you experience unusually heavy bleeding that lasts less than a week. Five percent of women have menorrhagia.

A long period may be a sign of a serious underlying health condition, such as:

• hormone irregularities
• uterine abnormalities
• cancer

It’s important to see your doctor if you experience a long or heavy period so they can identify the underlying cause or rule out more serious possible causes.

Menorrhagia can cause discomfort during your period as well as disrupt your regular routine. You may find that the bleeding affects your activities or your sleep. You may also experience iron deficiency anemia if you regularly experience long menstrual periods, especially if they’re heavy.

Read on to learn more about long periods, including possible causes and what you can do to manage this symptom.

Long periods can be caused by a wide range of underlying conditions.

Hormone and ovulation changes

Changes to your hormones or ovulation may cause a long period. You may notice hormonal changes when you first get your period during puberty or in perimenopause. You may also experience a hormonal imbalance from different health conditions, such as thyroid disorders or polycystic ovary syndrome.

If your hormones aren’t at a normal level or if your body doesn’t ovulate during your menstrual cycle, the uterine lining can become very thick. When your body finally sheds the lining, you may experience a period that’s longer than normal.

Medications

You may experience long periods because of medications you take. These can include:

• contraceptives, such as intrauterine devices and extended birth control pills
• aspirin and other blood thinners
• anti-inflammatories

Pregnancy

While not actually a period, extended vaginal bleeding may be a sign of an unsafe or nonviable pregnancy, such as an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage.

You may also have extended bleeding in pregnancy if you have a condition like placenta previa.

If you’ve had a pregnancy test come back positive and you’re experiencing vaginal bleeding, see your healthcare provider.

Uterine fibroids or polyps

Uterine fibroids and polyps can lead to extended, and sometimes heavy, bleeding.

Fibroids occur when muscle tissue begins to grown in the wall of the uterus.

Polyps are also the result of irregular tissue growth in the uterus and cause small tumors to grow.

Generally, neither fibroids or polyps are cancerous.

Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is another type of tissue buildup. The condition occurs when your endometrium, or uterine lining, embeds itself into the muscles of your uterus. This can lead to a long or heavy period.

Thyroid condition

You may have a long period if your thyroid is underperforming. This condition is known as hypothyroidism.

Bleeding condition

You may have a condition that affects your body’s ability to clot blood, causing your long periods. Two of these conditions are hemophilia and von Willebrand’s disease.

A long period may be the only sign of one of these conditions, or you may have other symptoms.

Obesity

Excess weight may cause long periods. That’s because fatty tissue can cause your body to produce more estrogen. This excess estrogen can lead to a change in your period.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) occurs when bacteria infect your reproductive organs. In addition to changes to your menstrual cycle, PID can also lead to abnormal vaginal discharge among other symptoms.

Cancer

A prolonged period may the sign of cancer in your uterus or cervix. For some women, this may be one of the earliest symptoms of either of these cancers.

Don’t ignore a long period. It’s important to see your doctor to discuss why you might be experiencing this symptom. Delaying your diagnosis and treatment could lead to a worsening of the underlying condition responsible for the extended bleeding.

You may want to seek immediate care with a long period if you spike a fever or are losing an abnormally heavy amount of blood or large blood clots. A sign that you’re losing a lot of blood is if you need to change a pad or tampon one to two times per hour for several hours. You may also begin to feel lightheaded if you’re losing a lot of blood.

There are many causes for a long period, so your doctor will likely begin your appointment by asking you some questions. These may include:

• when your period started
• how many pads and tampons you’ve used in the last day
• your sexual activity
• other symptoms you’re experiencing
• your medical and relevant family histories

They may also do a physical exam that includes a pelvic exam and measuring your vital signs.

Your doctor may also recommend any of the following tests to help them make a diagnosis:

• blood tests to check hormone levels and also to look for signs of an iron deficiency
• pap smear
• biopsy
• abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound
• hysteroscopy
• dilation and curettage

Treatment methods for a long period can vary. Your doctor will treat the underlying cause. They may also recommend a treatment to reduce your current bleeding, regulate your period, or relieve any discomfort.

Hormonal birth control may regulate your period and shorten it in the future. This medication can be administered as:

• a pill
• an intrauterine device
• a shot
• a vaginal ring

Your doctor also may advise you to take medication that reduces pain or discomfort you experience from the prolonged period. These medications may include over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, such as Advil or Motrin.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure to alleviate long periods.

Dilation and curettage can thin the layer of your uterus and reduce how much you bleed during your period.

If you’re no longer considering having children, you may undergo endometrial ablation, resection, or a hysterectomy. These procedures can relieve the long periods, but they may also eliminate the possibility of getting pregnant.

Delaying a diagnosis could result in a more invasive procedure or intensive treatment for the underlying cause.

Additionally, if your long period causes heavier blood loss, you could be at risk of developing anemia. This may contribute to feelings of tiredness and weakness.

Your doctor can use results from a blood test to diagnose anemia. If your iron levels are low, your doctor may recommend boosting your diet with iron-rich foods and a possible iron supplement to get your levels back to normal.

Long periods may also be painful and interfere with your well-being and quality of life. You may miss days of school or work, or withdraw from activities you enjoy because of your long period.

There are many reasons you may have a period that’s longer than normal. Long periods can get in the way of your normal life, and they may also be a sign of an underlying condition that requires treatment.

See your doctor to find out the cause of your long period so you can begin to treat it. Delaying treatment may cause complications and lead to more invasive treatments in the future.

Causes, When to Seek Help, Treatment, and More

If you experience periods that last longer than seven days, see your doctor. It may be a sign of a serious underlying health condition that needs to be addressed.

Generally, a period lasts between three to seven days. A menstrual period that lasts longer than seven days is considered a long period.

Your doctor may refer to a period that lasts longer than a week as menorrhagia. You may also be diagnosed with menorrhagia if you experience unusually heavy bleeding that lasts less than a week. Five percent of women have menorrhagia.

A long period may be a sign of a serious underlying health condition, such as:

• hormone irregularities
• uterine abnormalities
• cancer

It’s important to see your doctor if you experience a long or heavy period so they can identify the underlying cause or rule out more serious possible causes.

Menorrhagia can cause discomfort during your period as well as disrupt your regular routine. You may find that the bleeding affects your activities or your sleep. You may also experience iron deficiency anemia if you regularly experience long menstrual periods, especially if they’re heavy.

Read on to learn more about long periods, including possible causes and what you can do to manage this symptom.

Long periods can be caused by a wide range of underlying conditions.

Hormone and ovulation changes

Changes to your hormones or ovulation may cause a long period. You may notice hormonal changes when you first get your period during puberty or in perimenopause. You may also experience a hormonal imbalance from different health conditions, such as thyroid disorders or polycystic ovary syndrome.

If your hormones aren’t at a normal level or if your body doesn’t ovulate during your menstrual cycle, the uterine lining can become very thick. When your body finally sheds the lining, you may experience a period that’s longer than normal.

Medications

You may experience long periods because of medications you take. These can include:

• contraceptives, such as intrauterine devices and extended birth control pills
• aspirin and other blood thinners
• anti-inflammatories

Pregnancy

While not actually a period, extended vaginal bleeding may be a sign of an unsafe or nonviable pregnancy, such as an ectopic pregnancy or a miscarriage.

You may also have extended bleeding in pregnancy if you have a condition like placenta previa.

If you’ve had a pregnancy test come back positive and you’re experiencing vaginal bleeding, see your healthcare provider.

Uterine fibroids or polyps

Uterine fibroids and polyps can lead to extended, and sometimes heavy, bleeding.

Fibroids occur when muscle tissue begins to grown in the wall of the uterus.

Polyps are also the result of irregular tissue growth in the uterus and cause small tumors to grow.

Generally, neither fibroids or polyps are cancerous.

Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is another type of tissue buildup. The condition occurs when your endometrium, or uterine lining, embeds itself into the muscles of your uterus. This can lead to a long or heavy period.

Thyroid condition

You may have a long period if your thyroid is underperforming. This condition is known as hypothyroidism.

Bleeding condition

You may have a condition that affects your body’s ability to clot blood, causing your long periods. Two of these conditions are hemophilia and von Willebrand’s disease.

A long period may be the only sign of one of these conditions, or you may have other symptoms.

Obesity

Excess weight may cause long periods. That’s because fatty tissue can cause your body to produce more estrogen. This excess estrogen can lead to a change in your period.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) occurs when bacteria infect your reproductive organs. In addition to changes to your menstrual cycle, PID can also lead to abnormal vaginal discharge among other symptoms.

Cancer

A prolonged period may the sign of cancer in your uterus or cervix. For some women, this may be one of the earliest symptoms of either of these cancers.

Don’t ignore a long period. It’s important to see your doctor to discuss why you might be experiencing this symptom. Delaying your diagnosis and treatment could lead to a worsening of the underlying condition responsible for the extended bleeding.

You may want to seek immediate care with a long period if you spike a fever or are losing an abnormally heavy amount of blood or large blood clots. A sign that you’re losing a lot of blood is if you need to change a pad or tampon one to two times per hour for several hours. You may also begin to feel lightheaded if you’re losing a lot of blood.

There are many causes for a long period, so your doctor will likely begin your appointment by asking you some questions. These may include:

• when your period started
• how many pads and tampons you’ve used in the last day
• your sexual activity
• other symptoms you’re experiencing
• your medical and relevant family histories

They may also do a physical exam that includes a pelvic exam and measuring your vital signs.

Your doctor may also recommend any of the following tests to help them make a diagnosis:

• blood tests to check hormone levels and also to look for signs of an iron deficiency
• pap smear
• biopsy
• abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound
• hysteroscopy
• dilation and curettage

Treatment methods for a long period can vary. Your doctor will treat the underlying cause. They may also recommend a treatment to reduce your current bleeding, regulate your period, or relieve any discomfort.

Hormonal birth control may regulate your period and shorten it in the future. This medication can be administered as:

• a pill
• an intrauterine device
• a shot
• a vaginal ring

Your doctor also may advise you to take medication that reduces pain or discomfort you experience from the prolonged period. These medications may include over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, such as Advil or Motrin.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure to alleviate long periods.

Dilation and curettage can thin the layer of your uterus and reduce how much you bleed during your period.

If you’re no longer considering having children, you may undergo endometrial ablation, resection, or a hysterectomy. These procedures can relieve the long periods, but they may also eliminate the possibility of getting pregnant.

Delaying a diagnosis could result in a more invasive procedure or intensive treatment for the underlying cause.

Additionally, if your long period causes heavier blood loss, you could be at risk of developing anemia. This may contribute to feelings of tiredness and weakness.

Your doctor can use results from a blood test to diagnose anemia. If your iron levels are low, your doctor may recommend boosting your diet with iron-rich foods and a possible iron supplement to get your levels back to normal.

Long periods may also be painful and interfere with your well-being and quality of life. You may miss days of school or work, or withdraw from activities you enjoy because of your long period.

There are many reasons you may have a period that’s longer than normal. Long periods can get in the way of your normal life, and they may also be a sign of an underlying condition that requires treatment.

See your doctor to find out the cause of your long period so you can begin to treat it. Delaying treatment may cause complications and lead to more invasive treatments in the future.

Women’s uterine bleeding – causes and treatments

The reasons why a woman may experience bleeding from the uterus, vagina or other part of the genital tract, prevailing in different age groups, are different. Regardless of age, their danger lies in the occurrence of anemia (anemia), if the blood loss is large enough, and bleeding occurs regularly. If a woman is not pregnant and is not in labor, then the following types of bleeding can be distinguished, the source of which is the uterus:

• Dysfunctional bleeding in girls – occurs at a young age, a little after menarche, due to hormonal failure in the ovaries
• Dysfunctional bleeding in women of reproductive age – require increased medical attention, as they can be a harbinger of infertility.
• Climacteric bleeding – occur due to hormonal changes in the female body and may indicate in favor of the proliferative process, both benign and malignant. More often still benign: the occurrence of polyps, myomatous nodes due to hyperestrogenemia (an excess of the female sex hormone estrogen)
• Postmenopausal bleeding – occurs some time after the onset of menopause, in which there was no blood discharge from the genital tract. They can be a symptom that speaks of the process of tumor formation in the organs of the female reproductive apparatus.
• Postcoital bleeding is a special type of uterine bleeding that occurs after intercourse. It can be based on different reasons, both formidable and not dangerous to the health of a woman.

According to the moment at which bleeding from the genital organs was detected, they can be classified into menorrhagia: this is the name of bleeding that coincides with menstruation, but at the same time, the volume of blood lost is clearly higher than normal; as well as metrorrhagia: such bleeding does not coincide with the onset of the menstrual cycle, but is noted by a woman before or after critical days.

It should also be noted three conditions that require immediate, urgent, speedy seeking medical help

• A) Bleeding from the genital tract during pregnancy. It is important to note that such bleeding can rapidly pick up speed and lead to serious complications for both the fetus and the expectant mother.
• B) Bleeding that does not stop for a long time, which is accompanied by symptoms of anemia. The latter include pallor of the skin, lowering blood pressure, dizziness when trying to stand up or even sit down, persistent headaches, a rare and weakened pulse on the radial arteries (on the wrist), fainting.
• C) Internal bleeding. It should be considered if the bright symptoms of anemia are combined with the absence of visually recognizable blood discharge from the genital tract, especially if the patient also has a feeling of severe pain in the abdomen, and its anterior wall is very dense to the touch, board-like.

Uterine bleeding in women in the reproductive period

Many women have to suddenly notice vaginal bleeding between periods, or too much increase in the latter. If spotting, in a small amount of discharge occurs at the time of ovulation (the release of an egg from a ruptured ovarian follicle), as a rule, on the 14-18th day of the cycle, depending on its duration in a particular woman (28-32 days), then this should be considered normal . However, severe sudden bleeding should alert the woman, as it may indicate a gynecological pathology. If metrorrhagia that suddenly arises intensifies or simply does not end for a long time, then you need to consult a doctor who will stop the bleeding, and also prescribe the necessary examinations to understand the causes of its occurrence.

In addition to ovulation, the cause of uterine bleeding that occurs between two adjacent periods can be a sharp change in the amount of the female sex hormone estrogen in the blood, which is produced by the ovaries, any pathological process in which can cause the above manifestation. In addition, such metrorrhagia may be based on the end or start of the use of hormonal contraceptives, a significant decrease in the level of thyroid hormones, the use of emergency contraceptives, as well as other drugs that somehow include estrogen. In addition, bleeding between periods may be due to an infectious, tumoral process of the genital organs or their trauma, miscarriage, the consequences of recent gynecological manipulations.

Treatment of the bleeding described above is given according to the underlying cause. If metrorrhagia was caused by a gynecological disease, then the right treatment for this disease will also serve to stop bleeding.

Uterine bleeding in young girls

Bleeding from the genital tract that occurs in girls aged 12-18 years is called pubertal or juvenile. If such bleeding is severe, then there may be a threat to the health and life of a teenage girl, and therefore it is necessary to quickly consult a doctor who can prescribe adequate treatment so that these bleeding do not pass into the reproductive period, in which, in this case, risk of infertility for this patient.
Quite often, juvenile metrorrhagia occurs in the winter-spring period due to a lack of vitamins and trace elements in the girl’s body. Often, stress, infectious processes or unhealthy diet can also be the main cause.
Most often in the pubertal period, bleeding in girls occurs after a delay in menstruation (several weeks), and lasts more than seven days, either increasing in intensity or decreasing, which can eventually lead to large blood loss and anemia. Such a process needs to be stopped, and therefore it is necessary to contact an obstetrician-gynecologist immediately.

At the same time, both sudden and severe bleeding, and prolonged and sluggish bleeding can lead to anemia. The symptoms of anemia are similar regardless of the cause that caused it: pallor of the skin, weakness, dizziness when trying to sit or stand up, a drop in blood pressure, short-term loss of consciousness.

In case of self-cessation of metrorrhagia in a girl, you still need to see a doctor, since the goal of treatment, in this case, will be to prevent anemia and a terrible complication – hemorrhagic shock.

Climacteric uterine bleeding

It is impossible to ignore the discharge of blood from the genital tract during menopause, as it can be a symptom of a pathological process, even uterine cancer. For many women, menopause is quite difficult. Along with uterine bleeding, jumps in blood pressure, mental disorders, and metabolic disorders can occur.

Usually the cause of climacteric bleeding from the genital tract is a massive hormonal restructuring in the woman’s body, but they can also indicate tumor growth.
Menopausal bleeding can be classified into:

• Premenopausal metrorrhagia
• Postmenopausal metrorrhagia

In the premenopausal period, bleeding from the genital tract most often occurs due to improper production of sex hormones due to disorders associated with the ovulation process, which in turn leads to changes in the change in the functional layer of the endometrium (epithelial lining of the uterus). Such bleeding can be repeated for several years with different strength and frequency. Anemia in this case is rare, in comparison with adolescent girls, however, if it occurs, it can be combined with uterine fibroids or with more complex and dangerous pathological processes in the female body.

Bleeding that occurs in the postmenopausal period is the most dangerous, as it requires an immediate diagnostic search to exclude malignant neoplasms. Such metrorrhagia is an indication for diagnostic hysteroscopy (curettage of the uterine cavity and cervical canal).

Postcoital bleeding

If bleeding occurs in a woman immediately after intercourse, then it is called postcoital (coitus-coitus. Sin.: penetration, copulation, copulation, sexual intercourse). Such discharge of blood from the genital tract can be caused by a number of reasons:

• Mechanical injury of the genital tract
• Sexually transmitted diseases (often chlamydia)
• Inflammatory diseases of the genital tract (vaginitis – in the vagina, cervicitis – in the cervix, etc. )
• Erosions and polyposis (requiring surgical treatment)
• Due to certain drugs, including hormones
• Dysplastic changes (replacement of the epithelium with the wrong one for this section of the genital tract) up to the tumor process

If bleeding is accompanied by a sharp pain syndrome and occurs suddenly during or after copulation, then you need to call an ambulance, because the situation can be life-threatening. In this case, you need to pay attention to the symptoms in case a woman has internal bleeding, which may be accompanied by acute pain in the abdomen, groin, lower back, weakness, dizziness, fainting, profuse sweating (“breaks through cold sweat”).

Timely visit to a doctor usually contributes to a speedy recovery.

Metrorrhagia after medical abortion

Bleeding after medical abortion usually stops in most women with therapy. And the cycle is completely normalized within 1-2 months. However, if, due to metrorrhagia after an abortion, two sanitary pads are completely soaked within one hour, then the bleeding should already be considered severe and requiring immediate intervention by a gynecologist.

Treatment of bleeding from the genital tract

The goals of treating metrorrhagia are usually limited to stopping the actual bleeding and replenishing the lost blood volume, finding and eliminating the already found cause of metrorrhagia, preventing the recurrence of bleeding and treating its consequences (anemia, hemorrhagic shock).

Uterine bleeding should be treated according to its cause. Often, the bleeding itself stops when its cause is eliminated surgically or conservatively.
Therapy should be cumulative: hormonal, symptomatic, restorative (helps restore the female body). The treatment is usually based on hormonal therapy and symptomatic – drugs that increase blood clotting and uterine contraction.
In addition to a conservative approach, a surgical approach is often used: this happens if the bleeding is strong enough and / or prolonged. Such treatment usually begins with a diagnostic hysteroscopy.

It should be remembered that a visit to a gynecologist should be an indisputable and indispensable component of the treatment of uterine bleeding. There should be no talk of self-treatment, because in the case when the cause of bleeding is serious enough, the latter can cost a woman’s health, and often life itself.

To prevent uterine bleeding, every woman should visit a gynecologist twice a year for an examination. In this case, early diagnosis of diseases associated with the genital tract will become possible, which will allow you to quickly and gently carry out therapeutic measures without waiting for dangerous bleeding.

Medical abortion. Bleeding – is it a norm or a pathology?

Home / Articles / Medical abortion. Bleeding – is it a norm or a pathology?

Medical abortion. Bleeding – is it a norm or a pathology?

Author: Tatyana Aleksandrovna Komarskaya

December 03, 2018

1
Medical abortion. Is bleeding normal or abnormal?

Medical abortion is the termination of a pregnancy at a very early stage. Up to 12 weeks, the woman herself can decide whether to keep the baby or not. At a later date, abortion is done only according to the testimony of a doctor. Medical abortion does not involve surgery. Pregnancy is interrupted by exposure to the body of drugs that neutralize the effect of the pregnancy hormone progesterone and reduce the uterus of drugs. Interruption medications are taken in several steps:

• first dose stops embryo development;
• the second contributes to the detachment of the fetal egg, and helps the uterus to contract.

In any case, an abortion, even without surgery, will be accompanied by bleeding. But what kind of bleeding will be considered the norm, and what kind of pathology? In which case you can’t hesitate and you need to call, run to the doctor? We will try to understand all this below.

Blood symptom

After a series of abortion-related activities, you will observe blood. And this is normal for this procedure. Firstly, the fetal egg needs to come out, and secondly, during pregnancy, the blood supply to the uterus increases and the longer the period, the more blood will come out. The duration of bleeding is purely individual. It can last until the next month. On average, from 7 to 20 days. To estimate the allowable amount of blood released, you can count the number of pads used. On the 4th-5th day after taking the reducing tablets, their number should not exceed 8 pcs. per day. Do not be alarmed if the clots are large. The norm is the allocation of sizes with a walnut or even a lemon. Moreover, the blood may begin to stand out before taking misoprostol, which contracts the uterus. In this case, you need to contact the gynecologist, and you will shift the timing of taking reducing drugs to an earlier date. All this is a symptom of medical abortion and indicates embryo detachment. It is very good if the procedure for getting rid of an unwanted pregnancy goes smoothly.

Doctors are convinced that medical abortion is the most gentle and humane way to terminate a pregnancy.

When to sound the alarm

You will understand that something has gone wrong by the following signs. The main thing is to inform your doctor about the problems that have arisen in time, which will help save your health and sometimes life after an unsuccessful medical abortion:

• in any of the periods after medical abortion, very strong spotting began to be observed. You can assess the criticality of the situation in this way: if a woman changes 4 pads with maxi absorption in 2 hours.
• If after a week moderate bleeding persists in the amount of 8-10 pads per day. And at the same time, there is no tendency to reduce the volume of blood secretions.
• If you have scanty, spotting spotting after 45 days of medical termination of pregnancy.
• Urgently need to see a doctor if the bleeding was observed only one day after taking contraction Misoprostol, and then it stopped abruptly. Or, after uterine contraction medications, within 48 hours the blood did not go at all or went poorly. These are dangerous symptoms of complications, indicating stagnation of blood due to uterine spasm.