Understanding Menorrhagia: Spreading Awareness on Women’s Health

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, Menorrhagia is a condition characterized by prolonged and heavy menstrual bleeding. Individuals with menorrhagia may experience symptoms such as having to change through a pad or tampon every one to two hours, bleeding that lasts longer than seven days, and spotting between periods. These symptoms are widely recognized by leading medical institutions, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Cleveland Clinic, and The Hospital for Sick Children. The CDC estimates that more than 10 million American women are affected by menorrhagia annually, meaning roughly one in five women experience it.

The impact of menorrhagia on daily life is significant. Those affected often face severe disruptions to their routines, including work, school, and social activities. The condition is commonly caused by hormonal imbalances, particularly fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, but can also result from underlying health conditions such as uterine fibroids, polyps, or bleeding disorders. Other potential causes include certain contraceptive devices, pregnancy complications, and even cancer. Despite the availability of treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications, hormone therapy, intrauterine devices (IUDs), endometrial ablation, and, in extreme cases, hysterectomy, many women continue to struggle with ineffective or inaccessible care.

One of the major challenges surrounding menorrhagia is the lack of awareness and research into women’s reproductive health. Many individuals go undiagnosed due to a lack of resources, social stigma, or simply not recognizing that their symptoms are abnormal. Since heavy menstrual bleeding is often normalized, some women endure unnecessary suffering without seeking medical intervention.

The consequences of untreated menorrhagia can be debilitating, leading to complications such as anemia, fatigue, and diminished quality of life. Raising awareness about this condition is crucial to ensuring that those affected receive proper medical attention and support.

For example, a family member of mine has struggled with menorrhagia since adolescence. She faced years of failed experimentation of various treatments, frequent visits to specialists, causing significant disruptions to her daily life. She had to give up a sport she loved, missed out on summer job opportunities, and frequently had to take time off from school due to the severity of her symptoms. Amidst her struggles, she often felt unheard and frustrated by the lack of awareness and medical resources available for people dealing with menorrhagia.

It is essential to increase education, advocacy, and medical research in this area. By shedding light on menorrhagia and its impacts, we can help those affected seek timely treatment and improve their quality of life. If you or someone you know experiences symptoms of menorrhagia, consulting a healthcare provider can be the first step toward finding effective management strategies and support.

Thanks for reading!

By Angela Cai (she/her/hers) | Blog Committee Member

SOURCES:

The Johns Hopkins University. (n.d.). Menorrhagia. Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/menorrhagia.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, December 20). Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/menorrhagia.html.

Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Menorrhagia: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17734-menorrhagia-heavy-menstrual-bleeding.

Casey , L. J., Tuttle, A., Grabell, J., Hopman, W., Moorehead, P. C., Blanchette , V. S., Wu, J. K., Steele, M., Klaassen, R. J., Silva , M., Rand , M. L., & James , P. D. (n.d.). Generation and optimization of the self-administered pediatric bleeding questionnaire and its validation as a screening tool for von Willebrand disease. Pediatric blood & cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28453185/.

Children’s Hospital Colorado. (2021, May 24). Heavy Menstrual Bleeding and Available Treatment for Teens. YouTube. https://youtu.be/l-bPUmQUB9Q.

Duffin, J. (2010). History of Medicine, 2nd Edition. ; A Scandalously Short Introduction. University of Toronto Press

Jones, L. (2019, October 20). Really heavy periods are a legit medical condition – but can you bleed to death? The Sun. https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/10157383/heavy-periods-medical-condition-bleed-to-death/.

The Hospital for Sick Children. (n.d.). Menorrhagia. Search. https://reach.sickkids.ca/display/19951.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2020, July 1). Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829.