What Is A Normal Period?
Most women have a menstrual cycle that lasts between 25-35
days.The first day of the cycle is the first day of bleeding.
A normal period lasts between 3-7 days and most women lose 2-4
tablespoons of blood (this can be hard to measure).
Most women ovulate mid-cycle (for example - day 14 on a 28 day
cycle).
Why Do I Have Bleeding At Other Times
Between My Periods?
There are many possible causes and a thorough review of your
history and medications is important.
Unscheduled bleeding can be caused by infection, trauma
(intercourse), hormonal changes (due to medications – especially
birth control pills or other forms of contraception), not ovulating,
abnormal lining of the uterus (hyperplasia or cancer).
Keeping a bleeding diary can be very helpful for your healthcare
provider to figure out the cause and ultimately a treatment.
My Periods Are Heavy. Why Does That Happen?
For some woman, having heavy periods is normal.Yet for others, it
might mean something is wrong and worth a visit to your
gynecologist.
There are a lot of causes of heavy periods and many depend on your
age and risk factors (weight, medications, other medical conditions).
The most common causes are due to not ovulating regularly
(anovulation), an abnormally enlarged uterus due to fibroid tumors,
polyps, abnormal lining of the uterus called hyperplasia, other
bleeding or medical problems (low platelets, thyroid disorders, etc.),
or cancer of the uterus.
What Are the Treatment Options for
Irregular or Heavy Periods?
There are many options to help treat unscheduled and annoying
bleeding. Most women tolerate this inconvenience for a long time
before they finally seek help.
A thorough evaluation may include an ultrasound, labs and possibly a
biopsy of the uterus, depending on age and risk factors, to assist in
identifying an obvious cause.
The treatment will be tailored to the patient based on their age,
diagnosis, as well as the desire to have additional children.
What Are the Treatment Options for
Irregular or Heavy Periods?
The treatment options may include:
Medications (oral contraceptives, Depo Provera, etc.)
The Mirena Intrauterine Device (Levonorgestrel)
Endometrial ablation - an outpatient procedure that destroys the
lining of the uterus to prevent heavy bleeding. It does not involve
removal of the uterus or affect a woman’s hormone levels.
Or ultimately, a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus).
I’ve Been Told I Should Have a
Hysterectomy. What Are My Options?
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the uterus,
or “womb."
There are several ways this can be performed:
Supracervical Hysterectomy or “Partial
Hysterectomy”
A supracervical hysterectomy removes the uterus but leaves the
cervix in place, which some research suggests may reduce the risk of
pelvic organ prolapse and preserve sexual function.
This is sometimes referred to as “partial hysterectomy.”
Total Hysterectomy
A total hysterectomy (or “traditional hysterectomy) removes the
uterus and cervix.
Radical Hysterectomy
A radical hysterectomy may remove all of these organs (the uterus,
cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries), plus the pelvic lymph nodes.
How Are Hysterectomies Performed?
There are three major ways to perform a hysterectomy…
Abdominal Hysterectomy
This is also referred to as “open.”
This hysterectomy method requires a 4- to 8-inch incision just above
the pubic hair line to remove the uterus and cervix and, in some
cases, other organs (tubes and/or ovaries).
The most invasive kind of hysterectomy, this type is performed
under general anesthesia, with a typical hospital stay of 3-6 days and
up to 6 weeks of recovery time.
Vaginal Hysterectomy
This hysterectomy method uses a smaller incision inside the vagina
to remove the uterus, cervix and other organs, as determined by
your doctor.
This incision is not visible externally.
A vaginal hysterectomy usually requires a 1-3 day hospital stay and
up to 4 weeks recovery time.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
This has become one of the more popular hysterectomy approaches.
With this method, a thin, lighted, telescope-like instrument called a
laparoscope (along with other small surgical instruments) is inserted
through 3 to 4 tiny abdominal incisions to detach and remove the
uterus.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
There are different types of laparoscopic hysterectomy.
Based upon your clinical need, your doctor might perform a
laparoscopic supra-cervical hysterectomy (LSH) allowing you to keep
your cervix, or a total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), which
removes the cervix as well.
Unlike more traditional methods, laparoscopic hysterectomy usually
requires only one day or less in the hospital and only 7-14 days of
recovery time.
Patients also experience less scarring and pain compared to other
hysterectomy methods.
www.awha.com