- What to do if you have a prolonged period
- When prolonged menstruation is normal
- Because menstruation is prolonged
When menstruation lasts more than 8 days, this can be a sign that the woman has some alteration in her reproductive system. In this case, continuous blood loss can lead to symptoms such as weakness, dizziness or anemia, due to intense blood loss.
Prolonged menstruation like coffee grounds can be a sign of an STD, endometriosis, myoma and even a possible pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to consult a gynecologist to find out the cause and start treatment, if necessary.
What to do if you have a prolonged period
The first attitude is to make an appointment with a gynecologist, so that he can indicate the best treatment, which can be done with:
- Use of the pill to regulate the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in the body, iron supplements to treat anemia and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, to reduce bleeding.
In the most severe cases, dilatation and curettage of the uterus, removal of the endometrium or cervix may be necessary, although these procedures are avoided in young women who have not yet had children, as they reduce the possibility of pregnancy.
In addition, there are home remedies, such as cabbage juice and tea made with raspberry leaves and herbal tea that can help tone the uterus, being useful to complement the treatment indicated by the doctor. See how to prepare each of these natural recipes to combat heavy menstruation.
When prolonged menstruation is normal
It is normal for menstruation to be irregular and take longer to end after taking the morning-after pill, but this is also common in adolescents who do not yet have their regular cycle and in women who are entering menopause, because at these ages there are many hormonal variations.
Because menstruation is prolonged
Normal menstruation lasts 4 to 7 days, and the most common is that menstruation will be more intense in the first two days and will decrease and become darker after that. When menstruation lasts more than 8 days, one must pay attention to the amount of blood lost and its color.
Changing the pad more than 6 times a day may indicate that your period is very intense and if the color is too red or too dark, such as coffee grounds, this can be a warning sign, and the gynecologist should be consulted.
Some possible causes of prolonged menstruation are:
- Uterine fibroids; Hormonal changes; Ovulation problems; Polyps in the uterus; Hemorrhagic diseases such as hemophilia; Use of copper IUDs; Cancer; Use of medications.
In order to know exactly what is causing this change in menstruation, the doctor can observe the genital region, perform the examination of the touch with a vaginal speculum and order tests such as pap smears or colposcopy. Sometimes taking the contraceptive is enough to stop menstruation but in any case its cause must be investigated by the doctor. After knowing what was really causing the prolongation of menstruation, the doctor may suggest other treatments such as cryosurgery to remove warts or polyps, for example.
