According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 5 women will suffer from
excess menstrual bleeding during their lifetime. These women have been
labeled “Silent Sufferers.” A study reported that only 5%
women recalled that their doctor inquired about menstrual bleeding patterns
as part of their annual physical exam; whereas 38% of these physicians
reported doing so; Why the discrepancy? A classic study in 1966 compared
a woman’s perception of their menstrual flow to actual measurements.
Surprisingly, half the women with heavy menstruation rated it as normal
or light. So asking a straightforward question “Is your period normal?”
does not reveal many who are afflicted. Hence, these women suffering with
heavy periods are left unidentified, and consequently tolerating their
embarrassing condition.
In a study published in the British Journal of Medicine, 1 in 5 women responded
“yes” to the question, “Does your period disrupt your life?” Notice the question is not judging whether the amount of bleeding
is normal or not, but rather focuses on impact on lifestyle.
In 2012 the menu of treatment options includes Treatments target the inside
lining of the uterus, since bleeding originates from sloughing this tissue.
The Good news is there are often alternatives to hysterectomy (the removal
of the uterus):
-
Hormonal therapy (Birth control pills or progesterone minimize growth of the inside uterine lining)
-
Progestin IUD (The
Mirena® Intra-Uterine Device only delivers progesterone to the uterine lining, so less side effects)
-
Lysteda® (non hormonal medication taken 1st 5 days of period)
-
Endometrial Ablation (NovaSure is a 90 second treatment to remove the inside lining of the uterus so it
doesn’t grow back)
-
Hysterectomy (preferably
laparoscopic or vaginal as minimally invasive routes)
At Women’s Health Specialists we offer women the convenience and
efficiency of a complete work up for abnormal uterine bleeding in a single
office visit that includes a pelvic ultrasound, hemoglobin, and endometrial
biopsy as indicated. We can then promptly proceed to treatment options
that you’re comfortable implementing. This saves time, expenses,
and most importantly lessens anxiety.