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Treatment for Heavy Periods

Treatment  for Heavy Periods (Menorrhagia)

PCPdirect  online service for the treatment of symptoms of heavy periods (menorrhagia)

This service has been developed for use by women from 18 years upwards.

Who can use this service?

The service is available to women only who have symptoms of heavy periods. This service enables you to purchase a product that may be used to prevent or reduce bleeding for short periods of time. Overseas purchasers may be restricted by legislation in their own country.

How the service works

The following information is provided for you to determine whether treatment for heavy periods is appropriate. Should you consider that this is the case you will then be given options for treatment, this includes links to services and proprietary products marketed for the treatment of heavy periods (menorrhagia) and the opportunity to participate in an online consultation to see whether the online GP considers antifibrinolytic treatment is appropriate.

If the online GP decides antifibrinolytic  is appropriate our service will allow you to purchase a short course which should be sufficient to treat your condition.

What is a heavy period?

A period is a bleed from the uterus (womb) that is released through the vagina. It happens approximately every 28 days, but may vary between 24 and 35 days is common. A period is part of a woman's menstrual cycle.

Menorrhagia is the medical name for heavy periods. The amount of blood that is lost during a woman's period varies from person to person, with some women experiencing more blood loss than others. Menorrhagia can occur by itself or in combination with other symptoms, such as menstrual pain (dysmenorrhoea).

Menorrhagia is defined as excessive (heavy) bleeding that occurs over several consecutive menstrual cycles. Heavy bleeding does not necessarily mean that there is anything seriously wrong, but it can affect a woman physically, emotionally and socially, and can cause disruption to everyday life.  

What is considered heavy bleeding?

The amount of blood that is lost during a woman's period can vary considerably for each woman, so it is difficult to define exactly what a heavy period is.

In research, heavy menstrual bleeding is considered to be 60-80ml (millilitres) or more per cycle (the average amount of blood lost is 30-40ml, and 90% of women lose less than 80ml). However, in reality, it is difficult to quantify objectively what heavy blood loss is, and most women have a good idea about how much bleeding is normal for them during their period, and can tell when this amount increases or decreases.

If you have symptoms of heavy bleeding on a regular basis which seems to be worsening or remaining the same you should discuss this with your own GP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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