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Heavy Periods services offered in Waxahachie, TX
If you often soak through pads or tampons during your period, you’re not alone. An estimated 10 million women in the United States have heavy periods that need treatment. At Advanced Women’s Healthcare of Waxahachie, Tracy Glass, DO, FACOG, and Gregory Kroeger, MD, FACOG, offer diagnostic testing to identify what’s causing heavy bleeding. They also provide minimally invasive treatments to regulate your period and stop excessive bleeding. Don’t be embarrassed by heavy periods any longer. Call the office in Waxahachie, Texas, or request a consultation for heavy periods online today.
Heavy Periods Q&A
What causes heavy periods?
Heavy periods, also known as menorrhagia, describe abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding during your menstrual cycle.
This type of bleeding can interfere with your ability to work or engage in activities. You may also be embarrassed by frequent leaks that cause noticeable stains on your clothing.
Potential causes for heavy periods can include:
- Polyps
- Uterine fibroids
- Hormone imbalance
- Ovarian dysfunction
- Pregnancy complications
- Cervical or uterine cancer
You may also experience heavy periods if you use a non-hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) as a method of birth control.
In younger girls, it’s not uncommon for heavy bleeding to occur during the first few menstrual cycles.
When should I seek treatment for heavy bleeding?
You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Advanced Women’s Healthcare of Waxahachie if you have heavy bleeding that doesn’t improve on its own. The providers also recommend an appointment if you:
- Pass large blood clots
- Have a period that lasts longer than seven days
- Soak through one or more pads or tampons in an hour
Advanced Women’s Healthcare of Waxahachie offers on-site diagnostic testing services, including blood work, Pap smears, and ultrasound imaging, to identify what’s causing your heavy periods.
The providers can also perform a hysteroscopy to get a better look at your uterus. During the procedure, they insert a camera into your uterus through the vagina to check for polyps, fibroids, and other issues that can contribute to heavy periods or abnormal bleeding.
How are heavy periods treated?
Your treatment plan for heavy periods may initially include hormonal birth control pills or tranexamic acid (Lysteda) to regulate your menstrual cycle.
If medications aren’t enough, the Advanced Women’s Healthcare of Waxahachie providers may recommend procedures like a myomectomy to remove uterine fibroids, polypectomy to remove uterine polyps, or endometrial ablation to destroy the lining of your uterus (endometrium).
The physicians may also recommend a hysterectomy to remove your uterus and other reproductive organs if your heavy periods continue. This surgery is only an option for women who are finished bearing children because pregnancy isn’t possible after a hysterectomy.
Don’t delay a diagnostic evaluation for heavy periods. Call Advanced Women’s Healthcare of Waxahachie to schedule an appointment or request a consultation online today.