Heavy or irregular uterine bleeding may cause anemia, weakness and a need for urgent intervention.
When to seek emergency care
If any of the following signs occur, call *3003 immediately — do not wait for a routine appointment:
- Soaking several pads per hour
- Near-fainting and severe weakness
- Bleeding with possible pregnancy
- Abdominal pain and fever
What is it?
Treatment is selected according to the acuteness of the bleeding, age, possibility of pregnancy, reproductive plans and imaging findings. In selected cases, embolization may be used to control the bleeding.
Symptoms
- Bleeding between periods
- Long or heavy periods
- Bleeding with clots
- Anemia
- Dizziness
- Lower abdominal pain
Causes & risk factors
- Fibroids
- Polyps
- Hormonal disorders
- Clotting problems
- Pregnancy-related conditions
- Endometrial pathology
Diagnosis
Diagnosis should not rely on one test alone. Symptoms, risk factors, physical examination and investigation results are interpreted together.
- Gynecologic examination
- Ultrasound
- Blood count and ferritin
- Pregnancy test
- Biopsy in selected cases
- MRI in selected cases
Treatment approaches
Treatment is individualized according to the severity of the disease, the patient’s overall condition, coexisting diseases and procedural risk.
- Medication
- Correction of anemia
- Gynecologic procedures
- Uterine artery embolization in selected cases
- Urgent bleeding control
How we help
At the center, the acuteness and cause of the bleeding and its hemodynamic impact are assessed. For fibroid-related or vascular bleeding, an interventional radiology procedure may be discussed.
When a procedure may be needed
Embolization may be needed when bleeding is not controlled by medication, is fibroid-related, or requires urgent hemostasis.
Patient checklist
- Track bleeding days and amount
- Bring anemia tests
- Report possible pregnancy
- Report blood-thinning medication
FAQ
Can heavy periods be normal?
Sometimes this may be an individual variation, but evaluation is needed if there is anemia, clotting or restriction of daily activities.
Can embolization stop the bleeding?
In selected cases, yes, especially when bleeding is related to fibroids or has a vascular origin.
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