Menorrhagia causes
There are many causes of menorrhagia
- Hormone disturbance:
During normal menstrual cycle, the balance between feminine hormones which are called ‘Estrogen’ and ‘Progesterone’ is responsible for regulation of building up the lining of the uterus endometrium which is shed during menstruation. In menorrhagia, hormone imbalance occurs and the result will be excess development of the uterine lining and the thickness of this lining will be exaggerated. At time of menstruation, shedding of the thick endometrium results in heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Ovarian dysfunction:
Ovaries are responsible for what is called ovulation or egg release. If the ovaries don’t perform its normal function, no ovum is produced and the hormone progesterone will not be excreted in the body, as it would during normal menstrual cycle, which in turn results in hormonal imbalance and menorrhagia.
- Uterine fibroids:
They are abnormal growths that develop in or on a woman’s uterus. These tumors are typically benign non-cancerous and the cause is unknown. Uterine fibroids may cause menorrhagia with heavier than normal or prolonged menstrual bleeding.
- Polyps:
They are growths attached to the inner wall of the uterus which extend into the uterine cavity. Polyps result from overgrowth of cells in the lining of the uterus or endometrium, so it is also called ‘endometrial polyps’. Uterine polyps may result in heavy prolonged menstrual bleeding.
- Adenomyosis:
It is a medical term that means the normal tissue which lines the uterus grows into the muscle wall of the uterus. These tissues continue their function by thickening, breaking down and bleeding in every menstrual cycle. Menorrhagia often occurs with heavy bleeding and painful periods.
- Intrauterine device (IUD):
It is a contraceptive device fitted inside the uterus and physically prevents the implantation of fertilized ova to control birth. Menorrhagia is a known side effect of using these devices.
- Pregnancy complications:
Miscariage or abortion is a known cause of menorrhagia. Another cause of heavy bleeding during pregnancy includes low-lying placenta which is an unusual location of the placenta. The placenta partially or wholly blocks the neck of the uterus which induces heavy life-threatening bleeding during pregnancy. On the other hand, the placenta may be normally situated but early separation of the placenta from the uterine wall results in heavy uterine bleeding.
- Cancer:
Uterine cancer and cancer cervix can cause excessive menstrual bleeding. Before menopause, this bleeding is considered menorrhagia but after menopause, the doctors consider it as abnormal uterine bleeding.
- Inherited bleeding disorders:
Some bleeding disorders with absence of one of the clotting factors or impaired can cause abnormal bleeding from different sites and one of these sites is the uterus leading to abnormal heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Medications:
There are some types of medications that can contribute to heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. For example, hormonal treatment,anticoagulants and anti-inflammatory medications.
- Other medical disorders:
For example, liver disease or kidney disease may be associated with menorrhagia.
