Menorrhagia - Heavy Menstrual Flow

Menorrhagia or Heavy Menstrual Flow (menstrual blood too much) is the term for excessive menstrual bleeding that is losing more than 80ml during menstrual periods. Population studies show that a normal menstrual blood loss was 30-40 ml.

Related conditions that may overlap with menorrhagia include:

- Metrorrhagia - flow or frequent irregular, noncyclic;
- Polymenorrhea - often flow, cycle of 21 days or less;
- Menometrorrhagia - often, excessive, irregular flow (menorrhagia metrorrhagia plus);
- Intermenstrual bleeding - bleeding between regular menstrual;
- Dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) - cause abnormal endometrial bleeding associated with anovulation and hormone;
- Dysmenorrhea -Painful Menstrual Flow;

Research shown that patients with menorrhagia have increased the flow of menstrual blood during the first three days (up to 92% of the total menstrual loss at that time). This suggests that the mechanism responsible for the cessation of menstruation is as effective in women with menorrhagia in women as normal, despite losing so much blood.

Cause of Menorrhagia

Possible causes including those related to changes in hormones such as estrogen or prolactin are too many, too few or poorly timed luteinizing hormone, and polycystic ovarian disease. Physical causes include obesity or the presence of fibroids, endometrial hyperplasia, polyps, cancer, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, and use IUD.Gangguan such as vitamin K deficiency bleeding or the use of blood thinners may be contributing factors. hypothyroidism, iron deficiency, and deficiency of vitamin A.

Heavy bleeding can be caused by too much estrogen or too little progesterone. Too much estrogen causes excessive growth of blood-rich lining of the endometrium to be issued every month.

Diagnosis and Tests

When it has been determined that the cause is not organic (physical condition), laboratory tests (bleeding time, complete blood count, and thyroid function) should be performed, and any abnormalities is corrected more or less than usual, it is difficult to accurately determine the actual blood loss using estimates based on the number of tampons or pads are used. One study showed that 26% of women with normal menstrual period is considered the loss of their weight, while 40% of them with heavy losses for the period they are considered to be moderate or mild. [Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1966; 45: pp.320-51]

Treatment required for Menorrhagia:

See here for complete Treatment information

Herbal / botanical: could use vitex agnus cactus, which herbal hormon balance. so this herb is very effective for menorrhagia patients. although it is necessary to use this vitex for a few (2-3) months to obtain the effect.

Minerals: increase the consumption of foods that are rich in iron.

Vitamins:
- Vitamin A
In one study, serum retinol levels (a measure of vitamin A levels) were significantly lower in women than in healthy controls denganmenorrhagia. Someone must not exceed 10,000 IU per day if the risk of becoming pregnant.
- Vitamin C, bioflavonoids
Capillary fragility is believed to play a role in many cases of menorrhagia. Supplementation with vitamin C and bioflavonoids have been shown to reduce menorrhagia. Such as vitamin C is known to significantly increase iron absorption, therapeutic effects can also occur due to increased iron absorption.
- Vitamin E
Free radicals may have a causative role in endometrial bleeding, especially in the presence of an intrauterine device. One study showed that supplementation with 100 IU for 10 weeks resulted in an increase in all patients. [Int J Fertil 1983; 28: pp.55-6], attention should be made as high doses have a blood-thinning effect so do not get too many doses of vitamins, enough with 100IU alone.