Heavy Periods

Feeling very tiredHaving headachesHaving trouble breathing when you exerciseFeeling your heart beat too fast when you exercise Are there tests I should have? " пїЅ Your doctor or nurse will decide which tests you should have based on your age, symptoms, and individual situation. There are lots of tests, but you might not need any. пїЅ пїЅ

- Birth control methods that use hormones. These make your period lighter or stop your periods completely. They come as: - Pills - Skin patches - A ring that you put inside your vagina - Shots that you get every 3 months - An intrauterine device (IUD), a plastic device that your doctor inserts into your uterus.

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Are there tests I should have? " пїЅ Your doctor or nurse will decide which tests you should have based on your age, symptoms, and individual situation. There are lots of tests, but you might not need any. пїЅ пїЅ

Here are the most common tests doctors use to find the cause of heavy periods: пїЅ пїЅ

Blood tests " пїЅ Blood tests can check if you are pregnant, or have hormonal changes, a bleeding disorder, low iron levels, or other problems.
Endometrial biopsy " пїЅ For this test, the doctor will take a sample of tissue from inside your uterus. The sample can be viewed under a microscope to look for problems.
Pelvic ultrasound " пїЅ This test uses sound waves to make a picture of your uterus, ovaries, and vagina. The pictures can show if you have fibroids or other growths.
Hysteroscopy " пїЅ For this test, the doctor will use a small instrument to look inside your uterus.

How are heavy periods treated? " пїЅ That depends on what is causing your heavy periods and whether you want to get pregnant soon. You might not need treatment. If you do, treatments might include: пїЅ пїЅ

Birth control methods that use hormones. These make your period lighter or stop your periods completely. They come as:PillsSkin patchesA ring that you put inside your vaginaShots that you get every 3 monthsAn intrauterine device (IUD), a plastic device that your doctor inserts into your uterus.
Medicines that thicken blood and slow bleeding
Medicines that reduce swelling, such as ibuprofen (sample brand names: Motrin, Advil) or mefenamic acid (brand name: Ponstel)
Medicines that contain a hormone called "progestin. " пїЅ These are taken for a week or so every few months.
Medicines that make the ovaries stop working for a short time
Surgery to remove fibroids or other growths

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 15420 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

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Heavy Periods

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