Long periods: causes and ways to eliminate pathology

The duration and intensity of a woman's menstruation are indicators of her health. If menstruation does not come on time or its character is not the same as usual, then, as a rule, there is a reason for concern. Deviations indicate the onset of pregnancy and the presence of a disease. Only a doctor will determine whether you should worry if the intensity, duration of menstruation, or consistency of discharge has changed. Perhaps there is a hormonal imbalance in the body. In this case, an examination is carried out to allow timely detection of pathology.

Is menstruation in women over 50 good or bad?

The longer a woman's period lasts, the longer she remains young. This is due to the production of estrogens, which maintain skin elasticity. In addition, they maintain bone tissue and the heart in a healthy condition. Therefore, if you have periods after 50 years, this is not bad. This means that the body has natural protection in the form of hormones.

Why do women menstruate after 50 years of age?

• It is also worth paying attention to the nature, frequency and abundance of menstruation. A variant of the norm is considered to be irregular periods, which can occur once every three or four months. This is absolutely normal, since ovarian function fades gradually.
• Initially, dominant follicles are produced either in the right or in the left ovary, thereby observing a kind of cyclicity. After this, one of the ovaries may stop producing eggs altogether. But the second one still works.
• This causes irregular periods. As for their abundance and frequency, indeed, menstruation most often becomes less painful and scanty. Most often they resemble daub. But there are other situations in which a large amount of blood with clots is observed.

At the doctor's appointment

When long periods are not considered a pathology

The duration of a normal period should be 3-7 days. They are considered long-term when it lasts more than 7 days. In some situations, long periods are not considered a pathology, even if they last 10-14 days:

• hereditary predisposition to increased menstruation;
• the first menstruation in girls (for six months, menstruation can be long or scanty due to hormonal changes);
• changes in the nature of menstruation during menopause, caused by hormonal changes in the body;
• using hormonal birth control pills or an intrauterine device.

Video: Side effects when installing an intrauterine device

Is the absence of periods after 50 normal or not?

Lack of periods after 50 years is also a normal option. In addition, menstruation may stop for a period of time and then resume again. Doctors also consider this to be a variant of the norm, due to the unequal amount of hormones in each cycle.

After the complete extinction of ovarian function and menopause, there are no longer periods, so any discharge in the form of bloody or spotting should cause concern and anxiety. During this period, it is imperative to visit a doctor. Perhaps there is fibroids, or some other ailment.

When should you see a doctor? This question really worries many women, and depends on how many months there have been no menstruation. You need to see a doctor if you haven’t had your period for about a year, then you start bleeding along with clots. In addition, spotting that occurs immediately after menstruation is abnormal.

Menstruation is accompanied by a general deterioration in the body's condition. The woman feels depressed and weak. Indeed, heavy periods can cause a decrease in blood hemoglobin, which provokes a number of other ailments.

Menstruation during menopause

Menstruation after 50 years indicates that the hormonal system is working, so there is a natural defense of the body against various ailments. Estrogens protect the body from premature aging, prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, as well as the occurrence of osteoporosis. Often after menopause, women are diagnosed with osteoporosis, as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

When should you pay special attention to increasing the length of your periods?

Sometimes long periods indicate serious disturbances in the functioning of the body and pose a threat to a woman’s health:

1. Prolonged menstruation, occurring after a long delay. Such bleeding can occur during pregnancy if there is a threat of miscarriage.
2. Prolonged bleeding during a normal menstrual cycle. They are the result of a decrease in blood clotting due to vitamin deficiency or diseases of the hematopoietic organs.
3. Menstruation after abortion. The day on which the abortion is performed is considered the beginning of a new menstrual cycle, although in fact bleeding after an abortion is not menstruation in the usual sense, when natural shedding and excretion of the endometrium occurs. After an abortion, the uterus is cleared of remnants of the placenta and blood clots, and bleeding is associated with damage to small blood vessels. Long periods can occur if the abortion is performed at a period of more than 8 weeks. This is due to the fact that parts of the placenta or fetus remain in the uterus. Bleeding continues for up to 1 month. In some cases, additional cleaning is required to stop them. The duration of menstruation is usually long after a medical abortion, when changes in hormonal levels cause gradual detachment and removal of the endometrium.

Note: If your period acquires an unpleasant odor, the color of the discharge changes, this indicates the appearance of an inflammatory process. You need to visit a doctor and start treatment.

Prolonged menstruation occurs as a result of stress, fasting (fad for dieting), and various diseases associated with hormonal disorders. The result is anemia, a sharp drop in hemoglobin levels in the blood.

Menopause and pathologies

In our article we will look at why women have scanty periods (reasons).

After 40 years, the discharge may not be particularly abundant. There are several reasons for their appearance. However, the most common are menopause and pathology.

You should know that menopause usually occurs in women at the age of fifty. But everyone’s body characteristics are different. Therefore, it is possible that some women will experience it earlier. The state of menopause is due to the fact that the body produces less female hormones. Cell renewal also slows down during this age period. This condition is a natural process for women. But some people experience this period very strongly. Since it is associated with emotional outbursts, a woman’s mood changes.

She may also feel depressed and unwanted. During menopause, women are advised to consult a gynecologist to assess their physiological and psychological health. The specialist will also give the necessary recommendations on taking medications that will help restore the cycle.

After 40 years, the paucity of menstruation is due to the fact that ovarian function decreases. Menopause comes slowly. First comes menopause. This period can last from 2 to 8 years. The time of follicle maturation also changes. Therefore, periods come at the wrong time and the cycle is disrupted.

In addition to scanty discharge during menstruation, heavy discharge may also occur. But as a rule, the volume of menstruation becomes less and less and turns into a daub. Such discharge is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen. Basal temperature also increases. Added to this is a frequent urge to urinate. The duration of menstruation is extended; instead of 3-4 days, it lasts 6-7 days. You should know that such symptoms are associated not only with menopause, but may also be the cause of the inflammatory process.

Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor for diagnosis. The female body may be subject to pelvic inflammatory processes or the appearance of any formations.

Diseases as a cause of prolonged menstruation

The cause of long periods can be diseases of the endocrine system: the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), pancreas (diabetes mellitus), adrenal glands, pituitary gland (prolactinoma), ovaries. As a result of such diseases, the production of hormones is disrupted, which affects the nature of the menstrual cycle, the intensity and duration of menstruation.

Another reason for the appearance of long periods is diseases of the uterus and ovaries. They arise both due to hormonal disorders in the body (age-related changes, endocrine abnormalities, taking hormonal drugs, contraception, stress), and as a result of inflammatory and infectious processes.

Uterine diseases

Myoma. A benign tumor in the muscle and connective tissue of the uterus. It consists of multiple nodes in different parts of the uterus, disrupting its ability to contract normally. Due to this, the removal of the endometrium is delayed. Menstruation lasts 10 days, the menstrual cycle is not disrupted. The tumor is usually removed surgically.

Uterine polyps. Single or multiple benign growths formed from endometrial cells. Their size ranges from 2-3 mm to 5-6 cm. They are a soft, round formation with a stalk penetrated by blood vessels. Polyps are easily injured, which causes bleeding. Due to the danger of degeneration into cancer, they are usually removed by curettage or burned.

Endometriosis is the growth of the endometrium (the epithelium lining the inner surface of the uterus) into neighboring tissues and organs. A type of this disease is adenomyosis - the growth of the endometrium into the muscle tissue of the uterus. Menstruation is long, scanty or heavy, accompanied by cycle disruption. For treatment, hormonal drugs are used, as well as methods of destroying the endometrium (cauterization, curettage).

Video: Endometriosis as a cause of long periods

Endometrial hyperplasia is the growth of the endometrium inside the uterus and thickening of its layer. The disease is benign, but in the affected tissues there are atypical cells that can degenerate into cancer. The most effective treatment method is curettage of the affected endometrium.

Chronic endometritis is an inflammation of the endometrium, which sometimes spreads to the muscular layer of the uterus (with endomyometritis). The cycle is disrupted, periods are long and heavy, with an admixture of pus in the blood. The cause of inflammation may be infection, installation of an intrauterine device. Treatment is carried out with antibiotics, immunomodulators, vitamins, and physiotherapy methods are used.

Ovarian diseases

Ovarian dysfunction is a violation of the formation of hormones in the ovaries. In this case, the process of maturation of the egg is disrupted, which leads to infertility. So-called dysfunctional uterine bleeding occurs, that is, menstruation comes irregularly (less than 21 days later or with a delay of more than 35 days) and lasts more than 7 days.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the formation of cystic cavities on the surface of the ovaries. Often combined with endometrial hyperplasia. Menstruation comes with a long delay, is abundant and long-lasting.

Methods of treatment for long menstruation

If your periods are long (scanty or heavy), the cycle differs from the norm, then to determine the cause, an examination is carried out using laboratory and instrumental methods to determine the hormonal composition, signs of inflammatory diseases, blood clotting disorders, and hemoglobin levels.

Treatment depends on what is causing your prolonged periods. If the cause of the anomaly is a blood clotting disorder, then coagulants (for example, aminocaproic acid) are used. For anemia, iron supplements are prescribed.

To treat diseases caused by hormonal imbalances, hormonal medications are prescribed to restore the background. Antibacterial drugs are used if necessary.

For diseases associated with abnormal tissue growth or tumors, surgical methods are used: curettage, cauterization, sectoral resection, hysterectomy (removal of the uterus).

Treatment

To treat scanty periods after 40 years of age on the eve of menopause, the doctor may prescribe hormonal medications that can replenish the lack of biologically active substances that have decreased in the body. This will avoid many of the unpleasant symptoms of menopause and give the woman the opportunity to continue living a normal life.

And if the doctor makes a different diagnosis, then, depending on the state of health, he will prescribe a complex of vitamins, antibiotics, and possibly procedures such as massage, baths or aromatherapy. After treatment, a full menstrual cycle will improve again, the woman will again feel like a young girl, and not a lady on the verge of menopause.

Menstrual flow is a good indicator of a woman's current health. The reasons for scanty periods can be either natural or indicate the occurrence of a disorder. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, but a woman can make a primary diagnosis with the help of the following article. Because not in all situations a small amount of blood suggests pathology.

Causes of prolonged bleeding

• Infection. Dysbacteriosis, infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system - all this provokes the nature of menstruation for a long time.
• Endometriosis. This is the growth of the mucous layer of the uterus into other organs located nearby. During the cycle, the endometrium begins to bleed over its entire surface, hence the strong and long “critical days.” Signs include acute pain and constant cycle irregularity.

What symptoms are considered alarming?

• blood flow has become very intense; pads and tampons have to be changed after 1.5-2 hours; the menstrual cup fills in less than an hour;
• large blood clots, strange flakes or lumps appeared in the discharge;
• menstruation lasts more than 7 days;
• the cycle is very short (from 10 to 20 days);
• abundant intermediate “daub”;
• weakness, loss of strength, nausea, dizziness (associated with iron deficiency in the body due to blood loss).

All these signs are a reason to urgently visit your gynecologist.

The above diseases can be treated quite easily with medications without surgery only in the initial stages. It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate, even after a final diagnosis has been made. After all, it is the hormonal reproductive system that makes a woman a woman, so why spoil it and harm yourself?

Signs of pregnancy

Age-related changes in the body, expressed in a decrease in menstruation and a meager amount of discharge without signs of full ovulation, inspire many women with the confidence that it is no longer possible to become pregnant under such circumstances and they simply stop using protection. However, this position is deeply erroneous. From the moment of the initial symptoms of menopause until the complete cessation of egg maturation, it takes from 7 to 15 years. During this period, the likelihood of pregnancy with regular sexual activity decreases slightly, so if you do not want to give birth to a child, you cannot refuse contraception. Even the complete absence of menstruation does not indicate infertility. The situation is further complicated by the fact that due to irregular and scanty periods, it is not always possible to track the time of ovulation and determine in time that conception has occurred.

https://youtu.be/nqMDXya5oLU

The most common signs of pregnancy: the appearance of characteristic spotting from the genital tract, weight gain, swelling, nausea in the morning, swelling and enlargement of the mammary glands.

In a situation where, after a delay, you have scanty periods, but your sex life continues, you should take a pregnancy test even if you are sure that it is completely impossible.

If no pathologies are found?

It happens that the examination did not reveal any pathologies, diseases, or disorders. In this case, long periods are simply an individual characteristic of the body. It's okay, everything can be fixed.

It is not at all necessary to lie still on “these” days, covered with pads. You just need to follow a special regime without prolonged stress and support your body with:

• quitting smoking, alcohol (strengthening blood vessels);
• herbal and aromatherapy (calming the nervous system);
• balanced nutrition (replenishment of minerals, trace elements, in particular iron);
• temporary restrictions on excessive physical activity (relieving muscle tension);
• regular sexual activity (well, this is in the break between “critical days”, strengthens the muscles of the pelvis and the entire reproductive system, and improves mood);
• drinking enough clean drinking water (blood is lost, and with it water leaves the body).

In general, the best treatment is prevention. Therefore, visiting a gynecologist once every 6 months is a very good prerequisite for recognizing troubles in time and a way to remain healthy, beautiful, feminine, and real for many years.

4 comments on ““12 main reasons for prolonged periods after 40 years””

Wow, so many possible reasons! I have a problem with both the thyroid gland and the adrenal glands. In general, at first I thought that if I was 41, then maybe it was early menopause for some reason. But a pelvic ultrasound revealed significant endometrial hyperplasia and sent me for urgent curettage. However, after drinking hemostatic burnet for a couple of days, I found a paid clinic with good doctors and did a hysteroscopy using modern equipment. I took a course of hormonal medications and the problem went away.

I read the article and somehow felt creepy. I don’t want to remember about my passport, but time passes. And then there are long periods after 40. I want to say that long periods at any age in a woman indicate some kind of malfunction in the body, you should definitely go to the doctor and under no circumstances self-medicate. And after 40, even more so - regular examinations by a gynecologist and self-monitoring of your health.

In principle, all the diseases described are possible in women much younger than forty; it’s not a matter of age as such. For example, I am twenty-six years old, I had long periods, as it turned out, due to large erosion of the cervix, plus a weakened immune system due to taking antibiotics (I was treating skin problems). After stopping the course of treatment only four months later, everything began to improve, and treatment of erosion (cauterization with liquid nitrogen) also had a positive effect.

There could be a whole lot of reasons. Firstly, this is a feature of the female body. Each of us often has a completely different cycle. Secondly, the duration of the cycle can be affected by stress or disturbances in the body. This should already encourage you to contact a specialist. After all, self-medication can only aggravate an already existing situation, and not help.

Survey

For any disturbances in the functioning of the female reproductive system, it is imperative to be examined to detect pathologies. If menstrual flow is scanty after 40 years, the doctor conducts a visual examination and anamnesis. He will clarify the diseases experienced during life and when menstruation first began.

There is a connection between the time of the onset of the first menstruation and the onset of menopause. Some experts believe that the earlier a girl’s period begins, the later menopause will occur in adulthood.

Additionally, they often do:

1. Blood test for hormone levels.
2. Ultrasound of the ovaries and uterus.
3. Mammography.
4. Smear for latent infections and oncocytology.

Read more Drops of blood before menstruation

In addition to the gynecologist, it is worth visiting an endocrinologist, mammologist, therapist and surgeon. If any pathologies are detected, surgical or drug therapy is prescribed.

Ways to stop long periods

From childbearing age to menopause, the menstrual cycle is a constant source of worry for women. A delay or a longer cycle, minor changes cause worries and sow anxiety. But panic conditions arise when menstruation does not stop at all. How to stop menstruation if it takes a long time? And what reason could cause such a phenomenon?

The duration of menstruation is a very important indicator of a woman’s health.

What is normal menstruation?

The duration of the menstrual cycle is individual for each woman and depends on both internal and external reasons. The main role is played by the ratio of hormones: estrogen and progesterone. Changes in the timing and duration of the cycle are caused by stress, climate change, prolonged illness and a number of other life events.

On average, menstruation occurs in cycles of 28 days. You can add or subtract a week to this indicator, and this will also be the norm. Menstruation itself lasts 3–7 days, and a woman loses about 80 ml of blood. The following are considered deviations from the norm:

• irregular cycles that make up different time periods;
• short in duration;
• too long, protracted.

Each girl's cycle is individual.
In general, the ladies' calendar is a well-oiled mechanism that works without failures for a healthy woman. But a number of reasons lead to changes, and the most dangerous among them is bloody discharge that continues for a long time.

Note: A pattern has been revealed that northern women have a longer cycle than southern women. Interestingly, women who live together for a long time have menstruation at the same time.

About menstruation

Menstruation occurs in girls from 11 to 13 years of age. This feature makes it clear that the girl is already ready to conceive and bear a baby. If the menstrual cycle does not occur after 15 years, this indicates health problems. In this case, you need to contact a gynecologist, who may prescribe taking hormonal medications for some time.

The duration of the menstrual cycle is 28-30 days. But this is also influenced by the individual characteristics of the female body. Menstruation - bloody discharge from the female reproductive organs. With their help, unnecessary substances are removed from the body.

The menstrual cycle is a complex of changes that occur under the influence of hormones. The main purpose of such changes is considered to be to prepare the body for conception. The normal length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days. Menstruation lasts from 3 to 7 days. Normally, the released blood should not be more than 150 ml.

Menstrual cycle

For what reasons may bleeding not stop?

The duration of menstruation determines the level of hormones, the formation of which is influenced by various reasons. The woman herself can guess about their origin, but only a gynecologist can determine why periods take so long.

The reasons for long periods are shown in the table.

These causes of prolonged menstruation are the most common. Their prolonged course is also possible in the postpartum period and during menopause.

Note: In some cases, bleeding is confused with menstruation, which is especially dangerous. Bleeding occurs if there is a threat of miscarriage, after an unsuccessful abortion, or with low blood clotting.

Why stop menstruation?

If the duration of discharge exceeds 8 days and there is no reason to believe that the process is nearing completion, you should contact a gynecologist. Heavy menstruation is alarming when the pad fills with blood within an hour.

If there is a loss of strength, urgent action must be taken

In this case, the following are observed:

• pale skin;
• drowsiness and loss of strength;
• sweating and perspiration;
• pain in the abdomen.

It is necessary to stop menstruation for a long time, since this is a threat to the health and life of a woman. After this, it is important to find out the cause of the situation and, if necessary, begin therapeutic procedures.

When scanty menstruation is not dangerous

The reason for light periods may be due to the following factors:

Postpartum recovery

After childbirth, stabilization of the previous cycle depends on whether the woman is breastfeeding or not. During lactation, hormonal levels are restored more slowly, so normal menstruation may begin after a year or two. Usually the cycle normalizes 2-4 months after stopping breastfeeding.

Heredity

Some characteristics of the body are inherited from grandmother and mother, including scanty bleeding. They occur throughout reproductive age and do not cause much discomfort.

The egg does not mature

Sometimes there are anovulatory cycles. Against this background, delays are often observed, after which scanty bleeding begins. This is completely harmless to health if it occurs only a couple of times a year.

Reception OK

Oral contraceptives can block ovulation or deplete the endometrial structure. Therefore, it is normal to have a small number of periods after stopping birth control pills, until your own hormonal balance is completely restored.

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External factors

When answering the question why there is scanty menstruation, doctors first evaluate the relatively harmless causes of the failure. Menstrual irregularities may be associated with the following external circumstances:

• stress, emotional overstrain;
• lack of vitamins;
• excessive exercise;
• work in hazardous production;
• sudden climate change;
• bad habits;
• consequence of surgery.

There is no need to treat such phenomena; it is enough to change your lifestyle, get more rest, and improve your diet. In rare cases, sedatives are required if the patient cannot cope with the psycho-emotional stress. Over time, menstrual flow becomes stable and corresponds to normal volume.

What drugs are used for treatment

Drug treatment is carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Drugs that increase blood clotting are usually prescribed, which can cause the development of thrombosis. Prescribe hormonal medications that can disrupt the balance of hormones. All of them act for a short time and are not able to solve the problem until the cause of prolonged discharge is established.

The most commonly used hemostatic drugs are:

• Vikasol, which affects blood clotting;
• Duphaston containing the hormone progesterone;
• Tranexam, which can stop menstruation;
• Etamsylate, which increases platelet production.

Tranex will help stop bleeding.
Mirena will help slow down long periods after 40 years. On the eve of menopause, when the ovaries cease to perform their function, disruptions in the female calendar are quite possible, and the duration of menstruation changes, and then they stop altogether.

Important! You cannot stop your period without medical advice and do it constantly. Intervention in the natural female cycle subsequently leads to gynecological problems.

Can birth control pills be used for treatment?

With regular use of oral contraceptives according to the scheme, the menstrual cycle, as a rule, is not disrupted. Its duration and volume of discharge are noticeably reduced. In case of failure, you should continue taking the prescribed drug. If a product with a three-phase cycle is used, then the third phase will help stop long periods, but at the same time the protection against conception is reduced.

Birth control pills are prescribed for heavy discharge. They help restore menstruation, but first you should familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications, the list of which is quite large. And if there is a concomitant disease, then taking these drugs is prohibited.

You will find out the causes and methods of treating long periods if you watch this video:

Is it possible to use alternative medicine?

Decoctions of herbs, roots, and plant seeds have always guarded women's health. This is a safe and natural way to stop long periods at home. It is enough to drink 3 cups of tea with mint and raspberry when stressed or climate change to normalize the cycle.

Other recipes also help: decoctions of acorns, horsetail, nettles, shepherd's purse, water pepper. An infusion of fresh parsley is also effective. If menstruation is regularly delayed and this is not a pathology, then with the help of herbs you can reduce prolonged discharge.

Why does it happen that women have scanty periods? Causes

After 40 years, a woman’s cycle may become disrupted. There may be several reasons for this behavior of the body. For an accurate diagnosis, consult your doctor. Now we will also look into the issue of problems with the cycle.

Why do you have scanty periods? Causes:

1. After 40 years of age, women are often diagnosed with endometriosis. This disease is characterized by irregular discharge. Delayed periods after 40 may be associated with this disease. The causes of this disease were discussed above.
2. Oncological diseases of the uterus.
3. The most common cause of scanty periods is menopause.
4. As women age, they become more emotional. Therefore, various disorders and stress can also affect cycle failure and cause scanty discharge during menstruation.
5. Chronic diseases of a severe nature. For example, diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis, urinary disease, previous surgery, various infections. All of the above affects the frequency and abundance of discharge during menstruation.
6. Various inflammations of the ovaries and appendages are the reason why scanty periods are observed.
7. Also, diseases such as flu and colds affect menstruation. Especially if they were severe.
8. Malfunctions of the endocrine system.
9. Poor nutrition. If a woman’s body does not receive enough fats, proteins and vitamins, then this situation directly affects the functioning of her reproductive system. With insufficient nutrition, menstruation will be scanty and reproductive function will be reduced.
10. Taking medications can affect the female cycle.

Causes of long periods

Normally, a woman's menstruation should last from 3 to 7 days. When bleeding does not stop for more than 10 days, this is a reason to worry. However, the reason for long periods may be hidden in changes not related to pathology. Experts identify the following factors under which prolonged menstruation is considered normal:

• Age. Hormonal changes are typical for girls in the first 2 years after menarche (the onset of menstruation). Menstruation during this period can last for a long time. Their beginning and end are accompanied by dark-colored spotting. Women after 40 years of age enter premenopause. Prolonged periods before menopause are also normal.
• Heredity. A natural predisposition to long menstruation is determined in the family if the patient’s relatives have critical days lasting more than a week.
• Abortion or childbirth. After these events, a restructuring of the entire reproductive system occurs. In this case, intensive cleansing of the uterus through prolonged menstruation is characteristic.
• Contraceptive drugs. Taking hormonal contraceptives often causes an increase or decrease in the duration of menstruation.
• Intrauterine device. When using this type of contraception, the uterus may perceive it as a foreign body. The organ’s reaction to the presence of a foreign object inside is profuse, prolonged bleeding.
• Adverse external influences. Long periods often occur under the influence of negative factors: stress, climate change (hypothermia, overheating of the body).

At an appointment with a gynecologist

When visiting a doctor, you should be prepared for the fact that he will ask you to tell him what dates your last menstruation was. Therefore, it is worth starting a special calendar where it is necessary to mark the menstrual cycle after 40 years. The doctor will also ask you to describe the general condition of the body, talk about symptoms, and perhaps any pain. Before going to see a doctor, it is recommended to observe yourself. Maybe there are mood swings, dizziness, insomnia, pain in the head or stomach, and so on.

After interviewing the patient, the doctor will conduct an examination on the chair, take the necessary tests and issue a referral for blood donation. Further, based on the test results and examination results, treatment will be prescribed using special medications and recommendations. By adhering to the doctor’s instructions, a woman will be able to improve her body’s functioning within a time frame that depends on the causes of scanty periods. From all of the above, it follows that you do not need to neglect your ailments, but should contact a specialist who will provide assistance through modern methods of treatment.

Pathological causes of prolonged periods

Regular menstruation, lasting 10-15 days, is dangerous for the body. To identify their cause, a woman needs to undergo examination. Prolonged bleeding can occur under the influence of the following pathological conditions:

• anemia;
• reduced ability of blood to clot;
• hormonal imbalances;
• depressive states;
• neoplasms of various etiologies;
• lack of elasticity, weakness of blood vessels;
• diseases of the uterus, ovaries (endometriosis, fibroids, polyps, cancer, endometrial hyperplasia, endometritis, cysts);
• diseases of the endocrine system.

Secondary causes of cycle disruption

The duration of bleeding may be influenced by secondary reasons. Among these factors, experts identify the following:

• injuries;
• lack of vitamins in the body;
• mental disorders;
• disturbances that occur during sexual contact;
• consumption of alcohol, drugs;
• frequent stress;
• excessive body weight or rapid weight loss after dieting.

Dangerous conditions during long periods

Whatever the reasons for prolonged periods, there are a number of alarming symptoms. If such manifestations are detected, you should immediately consult a doctor:

• lumps and clots appear in the discharge;
• shortening the cycle to 10-20 days;
• the occurrence of spotting between menstruation;
• pain that continues throughout the entire period;
• general weakness, dizziness.

The appearance of at least one of the listed symptoms indicates the presence of serious diseases. Long periods after a delay may indicate the presence of pregnancy and its pathological course. Often such manifestations accompany pathologies of the uterus and ovaries:

• Endometriosis is characterized by the growth of mucous membranes inside and outside the uterus. Menstruation passes with the release of clots and is accompanied by pain. The duration of the menstrual cycle tends to shorten, which has a negative impact on sex life and leads to anemia.
• Myoma is a benign formation located in the connective and muscular tissue of the uterus. Prolonged menstruation is accompanied by frequent urination and pain in the lower abdomen.
• Polyps are single or multiple formations consisting of endometrial cells. They are easily injured, which causes bleeding.
• Uterine hyperplasia - characterized by thickening and proliferation of the internal mucous layer of the organ. The disease is benign, but can develop into cancer.
• Chronic endometritis is inflammation of the inner layer of the uterus. During menstruation, discharge mixed with pus is characteristic.
• Polycystic disease is the formation of a large number of cysts on the surface of the ovary. The disease is characterized by long, scanty menstruation.

Signs of early menopause

Normally, menopause occurs at 45–52 years of age. From this age, a woman becomes unable to conceive and bear a child due to the fact that the eggs stop maturing. But this is an average indicator that does not take into account the individual characteristics of the body in each case.

For some representatives of the fair sex, signs of imminent menopause and corresponding hormonal imbalances appear not after 45 years, but already by 38–40 years. In addition to sudden changes in the menstrual cycle, characteristic symptoms are noted:

• frequent mood swings: rapid transition from a calm state to a surge of aggression, irritability;
• decreased libido;
• disturbances in sleep duration, insomnia;
• excessive sweating, a rolling sensation of heat, redness of the facial skin;
• weakness, dizziness, rapid pulse, tachycardia;
• periodic absent-mindedness, deterioration of memory and thinking abilities;
• increased dry skin, thinning hair.

The simultaneous presence of all of these signs is not necessary during early menopause. At the initial stage, age-related changes may be indicated by menstruation, which for some reason becomes scanty.

Treatment for prolonged bleeding

With long menstruation and a short cycle, the patient should undergo an examination to identify the root cause of the anomaly. Tests are prescribed to determine the presence of signs of inflammation, blood clotting disorders, hormone composition, and hemoglobin levels. The treatment strategy for prolonged bleeding depends on the identified cause.

If the anomaly was caused by a blood clotting disorder, coagulants (aminocaproic acid) are prescribed. If you have anemia, you need to take iron supplements. To correct hormonal levels during prolonged bleeding, doctors may prescribe oral contraceptives. Antibacterial medications are used if necessary. In addition, medications to contract the uterus, minerals, and vitamins are prescribed. If prolonged bleeding is associated with tissue proliferation, surgical operations are performed.

Drug treatment for prolonged periods must be supplemented with measures aimed at lifestyle correction. Experts give the following recommendations:

• give up bad habits - drinking alcohol, coffee, drugs, smoking;
• try to avoid stressful situations;
• maintain proper nutrition, watch your weight;
• Try to lead an active lifestyle, take walks in the fresh air to strengthen your body.