Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Heavy periods can significantly interfere with the physical and mental health of women and can markedly adversely affect their quality of life, both at home and in the workplace. In the past, very often such women would have been treated with hysterectomy; indeed, for many years, hysterectomy was the only treatment available. Removing the uterus clearly stops periods but is significant surgery to undergo and can leave women with other issues. Uterine fibroids are one possible cause of heavy menstrual bleeding but there are other causes. Often, no clear cause is found for this debilitating problem.
Treatment should really focus on improving the woman’s quality of life overall, not simply on the amount of blood loss with periods. In this regard, the number of hysterectomies performed in the UK has reduced in recent years, partly as women prefer not to undergo this treatment but also as the number of realistic alternative treatments has increased giving women choice in their healthcare.
Modern treatments include various drugs (either tablets, injections or implants), endometrial ablation or more minimally invasive options such as uterine artery embolisation when fibroids are contributing to the problem.
In conjunction with our partner Gynaecology colleagues, we are well placed to advise, investigate and treat your condition. The National Institute for Heath and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidance for the care and treatment of women with heavy periods.
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