Heavy Periods Specialist

Capital Women's Care

OBGYNs located in Manassas, Haymarket and Fairfax, VA

About 1 in 20 women experience heavy menstrual bleeding, or a heavy period. Sometimes heavy bleeding indicates a gynecological or health problem, while other times it’s simply a nuisance. Either way, the experienced OB/GYNs at Capital Women’s Care, with three convenient locations in Fairfax, Manassas, and Haymarket, Virginia, offer solutions. They use advanced treatments to get heavy bleeding under control or eliminate your period altogether. Schedule an appointment with Capital Women’s Care over the phone or online to learn more about your options.

Heavy Periods Q & A

What is a heavy period?

A heavy period involves menstrual bleeding that lasts more than seven days or bleeding that’s heavier than usual. Heavy bleeding can lead to iron-deficiency anemia or restrict your everyday activities.

If you must change a pad or tampon after less than two hours or you pass blood clots at least the size of a quarter, you have a heavy period and should see your Capital Women’s Care specialist for an evaluation.

What causes a heavy period?

Numerous factors can contribute to a heavy period. Examples include:

Hormone imbalance
Uterine fibroids
Ovary dysfunction
Uterine polyps
Adenomyosis
Cancer
Pregnancy complications
Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
Bleeding disorders
Certain medications

Thyroid disorders, liver disease, kidney disease, and numerous other medical conditions are sometimes associated with a heavy period. That’s why seeing your doctor and determining its cause is important.

How is heavy menstrual bleeding diagnosed?

To diagnose the cause of heavy menstrual bleeding, your Capital Women’s Care practitioner might use a blood test, Pap smear, endometrial biopsy, or ultrasound. They may recommend additional diagnostic testing as needed based on the results of your initial tests.

What is the treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding?

You may or may not require treatment for a heavy period, depending on your symptoms and their cause. Possible treatment options include:

Medications

Your doctor might recommend hormonal or other medications to control heavy bleeding. Hormonal IUDs can also reduce symptoms of a heavy period.

Minimally invasive procedures

Minimally invasive gynecological procedures can reduce or eliminate heavy menstrual bleeding. Examples include dilation and curettage, uterine artery embolization, ultrasound surgery, surgical fibroid removal, endometrial ablation, endometrial resection, and hysterectomy.

Many of these procedures help reduce the lining of your uterus, remove fibroids associated with heavy bleeding, or remove your uterus altogether. Recovery time for any of these procedures is minimal.

Which treatment is right for me?

Your Capital Women’s Care provider reviews the pros and cons of each option and personalizes treatments to match your unique needs. The right solution depends on what’s causing your symptoms and whether you’d like to have children in the future.

Don’t let a heavy period prevent you from enjoying the things you love when simple treatments are available at Capital Women’s Care. Schedule an appointment over the phone or online today.