Every woman has normal menstrual cycle once a month, from puberty until menopause. A normal menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 35 days, and menstrual periods last from four to six days. The intensity of the menstrual flow also varies from one woman to another. While some women have heavy menstrual periods, others have only light menstrual periods lasting a day or two. During each menstrual cycle, a woman loses about 40-70 ml of blood.
If menstrual periods last longer than they should, if the intensity of the menstrual flow changes and if you have menstrual periods more frequently than you normally have, you should get a medical check – up and determine the underlying cause for these changes.
Causes Changes in Normal Menstrual Cycle
Some women have menstrual periods that won’t stop. There are many causes that could lead to menstrual problems, and if they are longer than your normal menstrual cycle, a serious problem could be causing it. You should seek medical help in cases when:
- If you lose more than 80 ml of blood
- If you lose or gain weight unexpectedly within a short period of time
- If you have spotting or bleeding between your periods
- If you have spotting or bleeding after menopause
- If you have spotting or bleeding during pregnancy
- If you have spotting or bleeding after sex
- If you need to change your pad or tampon during the night
- If you have menstrual periods that last longer than one week
- If you have menstrual periods that contain large clots of blood in the menstrual flow
- If you are unable to do normal daily activities due to excessive blood loss
- If you feel tired, dizzy and if you are pale, etc.
Reasons That Could Make Your Periods Not to Stop
Some of the reasons include:
- Menopause – is a period when your body and your hormones change. While entering menopause, it is normal to have changes in the normality of the menstrual cycle. If the bleeding is not severe, it will stop without having the need for medical treatment. However, sometimes medical interventions are necessary to stop the bleeding.
- Hormonal imbalance – is common in ovarian disorders, during menopause, etc. If the levels of progesterone and estrogen change, it is normal to have irregular and sometimes even heavy menstrual cycles that won’t stop.
- Internal bleeding – even though it is rarely the cause, you need to seek immediate medical help. Usually, internal bleeding occurs due to an injury, accident, etc.
- Uterine polyps – are usually noncancerous growths in the lining of the uterus. They range in size and number and one of the symptoms is also irregular menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods or even excessive and heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Uterine fibroids – are usually noncancerous growths of the muscular lining of the uterus, also known as myometrium. They range in size and number and one of the symptoms is also irregular menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods or even excessive and heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Ectopic pregnancy – is a pregnancy located outside of its normal place. Usually, the embryo gets implanted into the Fallopian tubes. One of the signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy is menstrual bleeding.
- Cancer of the reproductive organs – one of the signs and symptoms of cancer of the reproductive organs is bleeding, especially bleeding between normal menstrual cycle, bleeding after menopause, as well as other signs and symptoms.
How Can I Stop A Period That’s Been Going For Too Long
Normally, you should track the length and severity of your menstrual bleeding. You should pay attention to any bleeding that occurs between two normal menstrual cycle, bleedings after sexual intercourse, bleedings that reappear after menopause, etc. You should also keep track about the number of pads or tampons that you normally use with every menstrual bleeding. If you notice that you are using more pads or tampons than usual, you should probably seek medical help.
Medications like Progesterone or hormonal birth control pills can regulate your menstrual periods. Medications like NSAIDs can cut the amount of blood you lose with every menstrual cycle by one – third.
There are various treatment options available, always depending by the underlying cause of this irregularity of the menstrual cycle.
Depending always from the cause of the bleeding, sometimes surgical procedures are necessary to treat and control the excessive bleeding with every menstrual cycle. In cases of uterine fibroids or uterine polyps, a hysteroscopy is necessary.
Endometrial ablation is necessary in cases when the blood loss is very severe. Hysterectomy is another option, during which the uterus and the ovaries are completely removed. Both these procedures are performed only in cases when the woman does not want to have children in the future.
If, your excessive bleeding is not accompanied with other signs and symptoms and if excessive bleeding does not cause you any other problems, you could just leave it untreated and keep track of your menstrual periods for a month or two. However, keep in mind that losing too much blood with every menstrual cycle can lead you to anemia. When necessary, seek medical help and get the right treatment for your problem.