Home Remedies and Herbs for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia)

Menorrhagia is the medical term for heavy menstrual bleeding.¹ This may include abnormally heavy periods or periods that last longer than normal. Each month, women go through a menstrual cycle that prepares her body for reproduction. If her egg is not fertilized, the lining of the uterus sheds, and she bleeds from her vagina to prepare for the next cycle. 

While many women experience heavy menstrual periods, most do not suffer from menorrhagia. Typically, women lose about 30 mL, or one ounce, of blood during each menstrual period, but women with menorrhagia lose a significant amount more blood, usually 80 mL or more.² Women may have menorrhagia if they have to change their pad or tampon every hour or two, if they regularly experience heavy menstrual periods lasting more than 10 days, or if they bleed during pregnancy or between periods.²

What Causes Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia)?

Menorrhagia causes can be difficult to diagnose because the cause isn’t always clear.³ However, some known causes of heavy menstrual bleeding include:³

• Hormonal imbalances
• Problems with the ovaries, such as failure to ovulate
• Uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous tumors
• Polyps, which are noncancerous growths in the uterine lining
• Adenomyosis, which happens when endometrial glands become embedded in uterine tissue
• Bleeding disorders
• Complications during pregnancy, such as an ectopic pregnancy
• Use of an intrauterine device (IUD), a form of nonhormonal birth control
• Cancers such as ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and uterine cancer
• Certain medications, such as anticoagulants and anti-inflammatory drugs
• Other medical conditions such as endometriosis, thyroid problems, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Talk to your doctor if you experience heavy menstrual bleeding as it may be a sign of one of the serious conditions mentioned above.

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia) Symptoms

Menorrhagia is characterized by heavy menstrual bleeding and may be accompanied by severe cramps that interfere with daily life.¹ This heavy menstrual bleeding may cause women to soak through their pads or tampons several hours in a row or wake up in the night to change their pads.⁴ Women with menorrhagia may bleed for longer than a week or frequently pass blood clots during menstruation.⁴

Due to excessive blood loss, nutrient deficiencies may occur, including deficiencies in iron.⁵ This can lead to a condition known as anemia, with symptoms like fatigue, headaches, and shortness of breath.^4,6 In serious cases, menorrhagia symptoms can include bleeding between periods or after menopause.⁴

Treatments vary depending on the cause and may range from drug therapies to surgery.⁷ Menorrhagia herbal remedies may help combat symptoms associated with the condition, such as cramping or iron deficiencies.

References

1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/basics/definition/con-20021959
2. http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/menstrual-disorders
3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/basics/causes/con-20021959
4. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/basics/symptoms/con-20021959
5. http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-1042002
6. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/basics/complications/con-20021959
7. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/basics/treatment/con-20021959