Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Treatment Near Lynchburg, VA
Advanced care with a compassionate team dedicated to your well-being.
Do You Experience Heavy Menstrual Bleeding?
At The Center for Advanced Gynecology, we are committed to identifying and addressing the underlying factors contributing to heavy bleeding, allowing you to regain control over your menstrual health. Our team provides tailored treatment plans designed to bring comfort and restore normalcy to your cycle.
Heavy menstrual bleeding, also referred to as abnormal uterine bleeding, is a prevalent condition that affects many women from Lynchburg at various stages of their reproductive years. If you're experiencing prolonged periods or heavy bleeding that leads to significant discomfort, it's important to consider the potential causes behind it. These can range from hormonal imbalances to more complex conditions like uterine fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome, adenomyosis, or endometriosis, each requiring careful evaluation and management.
Heavy menstrual bleeding can stem from various underlying causes, and understanding these causes is crucial for determining the best treatment approach. Some common factors include:
- Hormone Imbalance: An imbalance between estrogen and progesterone can cause menstruation to become heavier than usual, disrupting the natural cycle.
- Uterine Fibroids: Non-cancerous growths in the uterus can cause heavy bleeding by increasing blood flow and providing more surface area for the lining to grow and shed.
- Bleeding Disorders: Conditions like von Willebrand disease or issues with blood thinners can interfere with proper clotting, leading to excessive menstrual bleeding.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS can lead to irregular cycles and excessive bleeding during periods.
Birth Control: Hormonal contraception, such as birth control pills, can sometimes cause irregular or unusually heavy periods. - Medical History: Other health conditions may contribute to heavy menstrual flow, and a thorough medical history is important to identify these factors.
- Uterine/Endometrial Cancer: Persistent and irregular periods could indicate uterine or endometrial cancer, with obesity and diabetes being key risk factors.
At The Center for Advanced Gynecology, we start by conducting a comprehensive assessment to understand the underlying causes of your heavy menstrual symptoms. This includes a detailed review of your medical history, a physical and pelvic examination, a pelvic ultrasound, and any relevant blood tests to help us accurately diagnose and address your concerns.
Treatment Options for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Once we have pinpointed the underlying cause, our experienced team will develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs. The treatment options available will vary depending on the severity of your symptoms and the specific factors contributing to the heavy bleeding. We offer a range of solutions designed to effectively address your condition and restore balance to your menstrual cycle.
Non-Surgical Treatments
- Oral Contraceptives: Birth control pills can be an effective option for managing heavy bleeding and regulating menstrual cycles while also providing contraception. This treatment helps balance hormone levels and prevents excessive bleeding during menstruation.
- Oral Progesterone: Progesterone, a natural hormone, is often used to control heavy bleeding and is suitable for patients who cannot tolerate estrogen-based medications. Synthetic versions of progesterone, known as progestins, are converted to active progesterone in the body to regulate menstrual flow.
- Non-Oral Progesterone: Alternatives to oral progesterone, including injections, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs), offer another option for managing heavy bleeding. These methods may provide fewer side effects compared to oral treatments and can be highly effective in controlling menstrual symptoms.
- Tranexamic Acid: This non-hormonal medication is used to reduce excessive menstrual blood loss. It works by helping to prevent the breakdown of blood clots, thereby minimizing bleeding during your period.
- Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, are commonly used to relieve menstrual cramps and decrease blood loss. These medications help manage pain while also reducing the overall amount of bleeding during menstruation.
- Iron Supplements: If heavy menstrual bleeding has led to anemia, iron supplements may be prescribed to restore your iron levels. These can be taken orally or administered intravenously, depending on the severity of the deficiency.
- Other Medications: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists are also used to control excessive uterine bleeding. Treatments like Relugolix, combined with estrogen and progestin (Myfembree), are effective for fibroid-related bleeding, while Elagolix, with estrogen and progestin (Oriahnn), is used to treat bleeding caused by fibroids. For endometriosis-related bleeding, Elagolix (Orilissa) alone may provide effective symptom control.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
- Hysteroscopy: This minimally invasive procedure is used to remove uterine fibroids or polyps, which are common causes of heavy menstrual bleeding due to structural abnormalities within the uterus. By addressing these growths directly, hysteroscopy helps restore a more regular and manageable menstrual flow.
- Dilation and Curettage (D&C): A D&C involves the removal of a portion of the uterine lining, offering temporary relief from heavy menstrual bleeding. While it does not address the underlying cause, it provides quick symptom relief and can help improve the quality of life for women experiencing excessively heavy periods.
- Endometrial Ablation: This procedure involves the removal or destruction of the uterine lining, which can significantly reduce or eliminate heavy menstrual bleeding. It is especially suitable for women who are no longer interested in having children, as it prevents the regrowth of the uterine lining, making pregnancy unlikely.
- Uterine Artery Embolization: Aimed at shrinking uterine fibroids, this procedure reduces blood flow to the fibroids by injecting tiny beads or sponges into the blood vessels feeding them. The interventional radiologist guides a catheter through the femoral artery to the uterine arteries, blocking blood flow and leading to the gradual shrinkage of fibroids.
- Radiofrequency Ablation of Fibroids: For women whose bleeding is caused by fibroids, radiofrequency ablation offers a minimally invasive option to reduce fibroid size. Using an incisionless technique, radiofrequency energy is delivered through the vagina to heat and break down fibroid tissue, allowing the body to naturally absorb the remaining tissue over time, alleviating symptoms.
Surgical Treatments
- Myomectomy: For women experiencing heavy bleeding due to uterine fibroids, a myomectomy offers the opportunity to remove the fibroids while keeping the uterus intact. This procedure can effectively reduce menstrual bleeding while preserving fertility, and we specialize in a minimally invasive approach using laparoscopy, which involves only small incisions for quicker recovery and less discomfort.
- Hysterectomy: In cases where other treatments are ineffective or the bleeding is particularly severe, a hysterectomy may be recommended as a permanent solution to heavy menstrual bleeding. This procedure involves the removal of the uterus and can be performed through laparoscopic surgery with minimal incisions (as small as 1 cm), allowing for faster recovery and eliminating the need for an extended hospital stay.
What To Expect During Your Appointment
During your first visit, we will begin by discussing your symptoms and reviewing your medical history to better understand your condition. We will ask you about the regularity and length of your menstrual cycles, the heaviness of your bleeding, and whether you have experienced other symptoms such as cramps, fatigue, or blood clots. This detailed conversation allows us to customize the examination and testing process to suit your specific needs and provide the most accurate diagnosis.
After the initial consultation, a physical and pelvic examination will usually follow to assess for any potential abnormalities that could be causing the heavy bleeding. Depending on the findings, we may recommend further diagnostic tests, such as blood tests to check for conditions like anemia, thyroid dysfunction, or blood clotting disorders. A pelvic ultrasound is often suggested to evaluate the uterus for possible fibroids, polyps, or other structural issues that might be contributing to your symptoms. In certain situations, more advanced testing, such as a hysteroscopy, could be necessary to obtain a closer and more detailed view of the uterine lining and cavity.
Once your exam and test results are reviewed, your doctor will guide you through the different treatment options that may be most effective based on your specific situation. We are committed to ensuring that you feel fully informed and supported throughout the decision-making process, answering all of your questions and addressing any concerns along the way.
When to Seek Treatment for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, it may be time to seek professional treatment:
- Your periods last longer than a week.
- You have to change your pad or tampon every hour for extended periods.
- You pass large blood clots during your menstrual cycle.
- You experience severe menstrual cramps in addition to heavy bleeding.
- You feel fatigued or lightheaded during your period, which could indicate anemia.
Our team at The Center for Advanced Gynecology is committed to diagnosing and treating the underlying causes of heavy menstrual bleeding to help you find lasting relief. Serving Lynchburg, Virginia, and the surrounding areas, we are here to support you every step of the way in restoring your health and well-being.
Why Choose The Center For Advanced Gynecology
At The Center for Advanced Gynecology, we are passionate about enhancing your health and well-being by offering expert care in a wide range of gynecological services. Our team specializes in advanced surgical techniques, ensuring that when surgery is necessary, you receive the best possible care. We are committed to providing the highest level of medical expertise while tailoring treatments to meet your individual needs.
We also focus on offering non-surgical treatments for various conditions, such as chronic pelvic pain, painful intercourse, pudendal neuralgia, and issues with vaginal, vulvar, and bladder pain. Our approach ensures that you have access to a comprehensive array of options, helping you manage and improve your health without the need for invasive procedures whenever possible.
Since our establishment, we’ve expanded to meet the growing needs of the Lynchburg community. In addition to our specialty care, we offer a full spectrum of services, including cancer screenings, Pap smears, menopausal management, hormone replacement therapy, breast care, contraceptive care, urinary incontinence treatment, and pelvic organ prolapse management, all designed to support women throughout their lives.