Physiological causes of long periods
Sometimes menstruation lasts 10 days without any pathology. The reason for this is natural factors that do not require treatment. These factors include:
- Taking hormonal contraceptives – birth control pills contain hormones that disrupt the hormonal balance that has formed in the girl’s body. The body may react to this by the early onset of menstruation, its prolonged course, or other manifestations. Over time, the cycle should improve.
- Abortion, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, childbirth - all these situations have a huge impact on the production of sex hormones, so periods can take a very long time, be heavy and irregular for several months.
- The first period in a teenage girl - the menstrual cycle is just becoming established, so the first few cycles may be accompanied by deviations from the norm.
- Menopause - in women over 45 years of age, hormonal changes begin, which greatly affects the duration of the menstrual cycle and the period of menstruation.
- Heredity - sometimes long periods are an individual characteristic of women from the same family. If a mother, grandmother or sister also has long periods, and no pathologies have been identified, then this is considered a family norm.
If menstruation lasts more than 10 days, and none of the above reasons are confirmed, then you should urgently consult a doctor, because the cause of prolonged periods may be pathology.
When studying the causes of prolonged menstruation, which occurs for about 10 days or more, it is immediately necessary to pay attention to the natural factors that cause such a deviation. If a woman feels normal and the bleeding is not associated with an illness, treatment is not required.
Let's look at why menstruation lasts 10 days from the point of view of healthy physiology:
- Age. In girls, menarche primes the reproductive system for procreation. In the first year after the first menstruation, the cycle is just establishing itself, so the regularity of bleeding will improve later. In adult women over 40 years of age, hypermenorrhea is also explained by hormonal changes in the body - menopause is coming soon.
- Oral use of hormonal contraceptives. If the doctor does not associate menstruation for 10 days with pathology, it means that the body is reacting to the drug in this way and over time the cycle will be adjusted.
- Artificial termination of pregnancy. The first time after an abortion, periods may take a long time.
- Childbirth. After the birth of a child, the hormonal system is rebuilt, the uterus is cleansed. As a result, mommy faces hypermenorrhea.
- Heredity. If a girl with an established menstrual cycle has periods of 10 days, she needs to find out how things are with her close relatives - mother, sister, aunt. You can talk to grandma. If women of the same family are prone to prolonged regular bleeding, this will be the norm.
The causes of pathological hypermenorrhea are varied and are divided into several groups:
- Caused by improper functioning of the endocrine system.
- Associated with insufficient blood clotting function.
- Caused by weakness of the blood vessels in the genital area.
- Caused by the need to clean the uterine cavity from toxins, excess tissue and fluids.
Considering all of the above, if your period lasts 10 days, the doctor will look for reasons in diseases and pathological processes. These are anemia, cancer and hormonal diseases, stress, dysfunction of the gonads. It is imperative that a patient with hypermenorrhea be examined for inflammation and abnormal growth of the endometrium.
There are cases when the gynecologist does not find any pathologies, but a woman’s period still lasts longer than a week. This is a rare but possible scenario, and the reason why periods take longer than usual is not related to pathologies and diseases. This does not mean that you can forget about the problem and enjoy life - it is better to pay attention to the following reasons, which everyone can correct themselves:
- constant high level of stress;
- excess weight (precisely for medical reasons, and not personal feelings);
- low levels of vitamins in the body;
- acclimatization after moving (especially if several time zones were crossed);
- Constant use of alcoholic beverages, drugs or cigarettes.
In themselves, these reasons are not so terrible, but it is better to correct the situation if there is such an opportunity, because the fact that menstruation lasts 10 days is not very pleasant in itself and can lead to the further development of pathologies in the body.
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Causes
The functional features of the female cycle are quite vulnerable. In everyday life, the body is influenced by various factors - both external and internal - which cannot but affect its condition.
If such an effect is pronounced or prolonged, then changes in metabolic processes and neurohumoral regulation are observed, which leads to disruption of the duration of menstruation. In this aspect, it is necessary to highlight the following conditions:
The most common factors for long periods mainly indicate some pathological changes in the body. But at the same time, you need to remember about the reasons that can be observed normally.
To understand why periods are taking longer than expected, it is necessary to conduct an examination based on a medical examination and additional diagnostic methods.
Description of monthly cycles
Each woman has certain characteristics that influence the development of the duration and frequency of the menstrual cycle. The normal duration of the menstrual cycle varies between 21-35 days, which includes the following phases.
- The cycle begins on the first day of menstruation, when the activity of hormones is dulled. Hormones in this case act as cleaners, promoting the rejection of the thick epithelial layer of the uterus - the so-called “featherbed”, which was prepared in case of fertilization of the egg. If your period lasts 8 days instead of 7, this is rarely a pathology.
- Follicular phase. During this period, the pituitary gland secretes follicle-stimulating hormone, which stimulates the ovaries to produce follicles in which the maturation of eggs occurs.
- Luteal phase. This phase is characterized by the activity of estrogen, which increases the concentration of luteinizing hormone in the blood. LH, in turn, promotes the onset of ovulation.
- The postovulatory period is accompanied by an increase in the level of progesterone, which prepares the uterine cavity for a fertilized egg.
- Preparation for the next menstruation takes place in the absence of fertilization. The level of hormones begins to decrease, causing the overgrown epithelium in the uterus to peel off, which comes out, thus marking the beginning of a new cycle. Prolonged menstruation can signal fertility problems in women.
About the normal cycle
Menstruation first appears in a teenager aged 12-15 years. This is a very important moment in the life of every girl, which even received its own name - menarche. The arrival of menstrual periods indicates that the girl’s body is preparing for a possible pregnancy. In the first one or two years, the duration of the cycle and the nature of the discharge may fluctuate, this is caused by hormonal changes in the girl’s body, usually in the second year its regularity returns to normal.
Please note that a normal menstrual cycle should be regular and without too much pain during the period. The duration of discharge should range from 3-5 days, and the entire cycle is in the range of 21-35 days. During one menstruation, from 50 to 150 ml of blood should be released with the remains of the internal uterine layer, while the woman should not feel any discomfort, such as itching or burning. The smell from the discharge may have a slight, but not persistent, metallic tint; the stench of rot, pus, rotten meat or fish is not allowed.
To track the regularity of the onset of critical days, you should keep a special calendar, where you note not only the days of arrival of the regula, but also your feelings during the cycle, this will subsequently help the doctor to create a complete picture of the course of the disease if any disturbances appear.
Why does the cycle break?
Can menstruation last longer than usual and why? Menstrual irregularities can be caused by various reasons, both external and internal. Why do my periods last longer than usual, and how many days should they last? This question, perhaps, worries all women, since every representative of the fair half of humanity sooner or later has to face the problem of menstruation lasting more than a week.
Regardless of the reasons, long periods are dangerous due to their consequences. Normally, during menstruation, blood loss is 50-100 ml. The body easily replenishes this volume of blood. Heavy, prolonged periods lead to the loss of a large amount of blood, causing the development of iron deficiency anemia, which causes general weakening of the body, headaches and shortness of breath.
Among the physiological reasons that lead to the fact that menstruation does not end for a long time, the following factors can be noted.
- Within 2-3 years from the beginning of the first menstruation, it is quite normal for periods to last a long time. This is explained by the unsteady cycle.
- Before the onset of menopause or menopause, periods do not stop for the simple reason that they may be the last. Therefore, it is difficult to judge how many days they should go.
- Women taking hormonal medications, especially contraceptives, should not think about why their periods are longer than expected. Your period lasts 12 days or longer after the IUD is installed. At the same time, the entire menstrual cycle also lengthens.
- In some cases, menstruation occurs two weeks after childbirth or abortion. In the first case, the body thus gets rid of the remnants of the placenta and waste products of the fetus. Abortion is a severe stress for the female body, causing serious hormonal changes, which explains why menstruation does not end.
- Hereditary factors can determine how many days menstruation should last. If among close relatives there are women whose menstruation was accompanied by prolonged heavy discharge, it is possible that menstruation may last quite a long time. Here it is also impossible to predict how many days they will go.
Why do my periods not stop even after 2 weeks?
As you know, too long periods, which last more than 2 weeks, for example 3 weeks or more, are a consequence of the same reasons why periods last 12-14 days. Let's look at the reasons why menstruation lasts from 12 days to two weeks. One of the common causes of prolonged menstruation is the use of hormonal contraceptives. And if men use barrier contraceptives more often, which does not affect their health, then women, in order to avoid conception, are more prone to suppressing the reproductive activity of the reproductive system with hormonal drugs. As a result, the duration of menstruation may change, becoming longer or shorter.
Depending on whether a woman has an intrauterine device installed or she is taking contraceptives, the time frame for the duration of menstruation shifts. Girls using the IUD begin to have heavy, long periods; when taking oral medications, their volume and duration are reduced, sometimes becoming simply spotty. The phenomenon of prolonged continuation of menstruation after the installation of a hormonal IUD (intrauterine device) can be perceived without fear if it is repeated no more than one or two times and does not cause the woman additional discomfort and pain.
Causes of long-term menstruation in pathology
How to determine whether menorrhagia is a cause for concern or whether prolonged menstruation can be explained by natural factors? A woman needs to analyze the accompanying symptoms and circumstances of the occurrence of menstruation, which lasts more than 10 days. The following factors need to be taken into account:
- What circumstances preceded long menstruation? Perhaps the woman experienced a nervous shock, changed the contraceptive method she had been using for a long time, or moved to a new place of residence in a different climate zone. We need to see if the menorrhagia continues in the next month.
- What symptoms are accompanied by prolonged regulation? Severe pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, fever, unpleasant odor from the genitals, nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness - all this may indicate inflammatory or infectious processes in the reproductive organs.
- What happens on the remaining days of the cycle? Intermenstrual bleeding, pain, and purulent discharge indicate diseases of the genital organs.
After a full diagnostic examination, the doctor will determine the cause and prescribe adequate treatment. Let's consider the main dangers associated with prolonged periods and the factors that can provoke them.
What threatens
Excessive blood loss in itself is a dangerous condition, even without taking into account the reasons that caused it.
Prolonged periods carry the following dangers:
- with heavy bleeding, many useful microelements, including iron, leave the body. Heavy periods are fraught with the development of iron deficiency anemia; with this disease, the number of red blood cells in the blood significantly decreases, general weakness and loss of ability to work are felt;
- long-term regulation can result in infertility. If the cause of bleeding is any pathology, then the lack of adequate treatment can forever close the path to motherhood;
- if menstruation lasts longer than usual, and the intensity of the discharge does not decrease, but even increases, emergency help should be called, since breakthrough uterine bleeding poses a serious threat to the woman’s life. In some cases, only surgical intervention will help correct the situation.
Factors
Prolonged periods can become a sign of serious health problems, and they can be provoked by disruption of the functioning of internal organs that are absolutely not related to gynecology, therefore, if the period lasts longer than 10-15 days, you should definitely seek medical help.
Prolonged menstruation can be caused by the following factors:
- Hormonal imbalance can be triggered by childbirth, stress, menopause or any other change in a woman's life. Usually, within 2-3 months, with such hormonal swings, the cycle should normalize;
- endocrine pathologies can be triggered by hormonal disorders or tumors. If a woman wants to have children in the future, she must not only correct her cycle, but also undergo a course of treatment prescribed by an endocrinologist;
- poor blood clotting, prolonged anemia and poor elasticity of blood vessels. When a woman has an insufficient number of platelets produced, not only may long-term platelets appear, but her gums may also bleed, and cuts, wounds and abrasions will bleed for a long time;
- benign and malignant tumors. Benign fibroids can appear in women at any age, even before sexual activity begins. Typically, the neoplasm develops asymptomatically; in rare cases, prolonged periods and intermenstrual bleeding occur. Cancerous tumors also do not make themselves felt at the initial stage; if severe bleeding occurs with pain in the lower abdomen and smelly discharge between menstruation, it means that the disease is rapidly progressing and is in an advanced state;
- gynecological diseases associated with pathological growth of the endometrium. With endometriosis, the inner mucous layer of the uterus grows into neighboring organs and tissues; against the background of this disease, a woman’s menstruation increases, PMS becomes more pronounced, the ovaries and lower back hurt very badly, in some cases it is necessary to take painkillers. With focal growth of the endometrium, a polyp is diagnosed. This neoplasm is harmless and can be diagnosed with a hysteroscope;
- incorrect prescription of contraceptives or individual intolerance to such medications. Hormonal contraceptives, both pills and intrauterine devices, are effective remedies against unwanted pregnancy, but due to the individual characteristics of the female body, these methods are not suitable for everyone. If, when using these contraceptives for more than 3 months, disruptions in the menstrual cycle are observed, you should definitely consult a specialist. You may need to stop using hormonal birth control in favor of barrier contraception;
- Stressful and depressive conditions can affect a woman’s hormonal levels, so in some cases, to normalize the cycle, it may be necessary to take sedatives and sedatives, as well as consult a psychotherapist.
Prolonged menstruation has the scientific term hypermenorrhea. The causes of this condition are varied; there are several groups of them:
- caused by weakness of the walls of blood vessels that provide blood supply to the genital organs;
- caused by blood clotting disorders, lack of coagulation factors;
- caused by the need to cleanse the uterus of excess fluid, tissue, toxins;
- caused by dysfunction of the endocrine system.
All of these factors are consequences of diseases and pathological processes in the female body:
- stressful situations of any origin (psychological stress, thermal, chemical);
- various types of anemia;
- neoplasms in the genital organs;
- hormonal diseases, dysfunction of the gonads;
- diseases of the gynecological group (these include endometrial hyperplasia and inflammation).
An unpleasant odor may indicate inflammation caused by bacteria or fungus. Then you need to immediately use the services of professionals. You should be prescribed an ultrasound examination of the uterus, ovaries, thyroid gland, and undergo a whole series of tests.
Ultrasound examination of the uterus is prescribed to determine the causes of long periods
Causes
Reasons why periods last 2 weeks:
- pathological conditions of the uterus and cervix;
- hormonal disorders caused by ovarian dysfunction;
- blood diseases;
- incorrect medical interventions.
You can read more about the reasons for long periods in a separate article on our website.
Polyps
Polyps are benign growths on the cervix or body of the uterus. There may be one or more of them; they arise as a consequence of hormonal imbalance or a complication of the inflammatory process .
Since uterine polyps are formed from mucous tissue - the endometrium, their structure is loose, and the cells are essentially the same as those that come out during menstruation, but have gone through the process of hyperplasia. These growths bleed, which leads to a change in the duration of menstruation - in addition to the rejected endometrium, polyp cells also come out.
Adenomyosis
The body of the uterus consists of 3 types of tissue: muscle, protective and mucous.
Sometimes, for various reasons, the mucous tissue (endometrium) begins to grow abnormally and penetrate the protective and muscular layers, and the uterus takes on a spherical shape.
Until the later stages, this disease can be asymptomatic. When it is launched, the following are considered eloquent manifestations:
- pronounced pain during menstruation;
- prolonged discharge. Menstruation does not stop after a week, it can be brown and scanty or abundant in red shades.
This pathology is a serious gynecological disease that must be treated. We recommend that you first read additional information about what adenomyosis is and how to treat it.
Leiomyoma
Leiomyomas are benign tumors. Their main features:
- frequent periods appearing at intervals of less than 3 weeks;
- heavy blood loss during menstrual periods;
- menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than a week;
- bloody discharge is bright red.
To prevent blood loss, you need to know the basic hemostatic drugs for heavy menstruation. Our article on the website talks about them in detail.
Hyperplasia and malignancy
Menstrual-type bleeding that lasts 14 days or more is a reason to consult a gynecologist as soon as possible, because it can be a symptom of processes such as:
- hyperplasia - abnormal proliferation of endometrial cells;
- malignancy – the formation of malignant tissue from healthy or benign tissue.
Coagulopathy
If your period lasts for more than two weeks, this may be caused by health problems not only in the reproductive system, but also in the circulatory system. Thus, the main symptom of coagulopathy is poor blood clotting, manifested by bleeding of internal organs and skin.
The disease can be congenital or resulting from therapy with drugs that disrupt platelet aggregation, as well as as a result of hormonal imbalances.
Ovulatory dysfunction
The reason why periods last longer may be a hormonal imbalance caused by ovarian dysfunction.
When the egg does not mature in them and does not exit into the fallopian tube during ovulation, the corpus luteum, the main function of which is to secrete sex hormones, does not form. Their normal production regulates the process of growth of the endometrium, which is rejected in the form of bleeding during menstrual periods.
If there is a malfunction, when estrogen and progesterone are not released by the corpus luteum, the uterine mucosa continues to grow, and during anovulatory menstruation much more blood is released.
Iatrogenic
In addition to the listed diseases, periods lasting two weeks are provoked by factors associated with medical intervention:
- hormonal therapy;
- changing or starting oral contraceptives;
- installation of an intrauterine device.
In all these cases, the woman’s condition should be monitored by a specialist.
Ten day menstruation
What should you do if your period has been going on for 10 days and is not ending? Perhaps they are caused by external factors that have nothing to do with pathological processes in the body.
These factors include the following phenomena:
- stress;
- psychological problems;
- errors in nutrition;
- fasting and following strict diets;
- nervous exhaustion;
- excessive physical activity;
- bad habits, including frequent drinking and smoking;
- intoxication of the body;
- change in climatic conditions.
Stress as a cause of disorder
Among other things, the appearance of bleeding that resembles menstruation can be influenced by a stressful condition. For example, over the course of several days, a woman was subjected to experiences. As a result of this, she may experience scanty bleeding, which occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle and is very similar to menstruation.
But not only experiences can become stress for the body. A cold, severe fatigue, poor sleep for several days - all this is a shock to the body, that is, stress. Therefore, if your period - or something that resembles it - occurs every two weeks, it is worth analyzing your daily routine and taking care of your emotional state.
When prolonged menstruation becomes a cause for concern
If your period does not end due to negative external factors, solving the problem that caused the long menstruation can help. But if your period has been going on for 10 days, and it is not associated with stress, age-related changes and other manifestations, then the reason for this lies in internal diseases.
- Menstruations take a very long time in women suffering from thyroid dysfunction.
- Long and heavy menstruation is observed in women with low blood clotting.
- This factor may be caused by dysfunction of the ovaries.
- Heavy, prolonged bleeding can be caused by endometriosis or tumor processes in the uterus.
- During menstruation, progesterone is produced, which has hemostatic properties. If the level of progesterone is insufficient, menstruation lasts 2 weeks, or even longer.
- Prolonged menstruation can be a consequence of sexually transmitted diseases. How many days it will last in this case depends on the severity of the inflammatory process.
Symptoms
If we consider the symptoms of cycle disorders, we must first determine its normal indicators. So, menstruation should end within one week, and they can be heavy only in the first days.
When menstruation lasts longer than the allotted time, they talk about polymenorrhea, and when the daily volume of blood loss increases to 150 ml, menorrhagia is diagnosed.
Such phenomena are often observed in one woman and are combined under the concept of hypermenstrual syndrome. In each case, it is necessary to take into account the origin of this phenomenon, since other symptoms are possible.
Therapeutic and preventive measures
Can menorrhagia be prevented? Several recommendations for preventing prolonged menstruation:
- Regular preventive examinations with a gynecologist. Women of reproductive age are recommended to visit a doctor at least once a year, and if there is a history of gynecological diseases and abortions - once every six months. A disease detected at an early stage is much easier to treat.
- Complete nutrition. The diet should be varied, a woman should receive a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. If it is not possible to obtain the necessary substances naturally, doctors prescribe multivitamin complexes.
- Healthy lifestyle. Alcoholism, smoking, and drug use negatively affect the functioning of the entire body and, in particular, blood clotting. People who abuse substances take longer than usual for wounds to heal and bleed more heavily.
- Avoiding stress. Taking into account the modern lifestyle, it is impossible to completely avoid stress and emotional stress. However, you can learn to cope with stress. Walking in the fresh air, sports, meditation, consultations with a psychologist - all this will help increase stress resistance.
Menorrhagia can be a consequence of various diseases. The sooner a woman turns to doctors for help, the sooner a diagnosis will be made and treatment will begin.
My period has been going on for 15 days, what should I do in this case? The only sure way out in this situation is to contact a gynecologist. Adequate treatment can be prescribed only after a thorough examination, including ultrasound and tests. These measures will help to establish the exact cause of the pathology and make the right decision regarding the advisability of using a particular treatment method.
If your period lasts 10 days instead of 3, the doctor will most likely decide that it is necessary to stop the bleeding, which can cause the development of iron deficiency anemia. For this purpose, as a rule, a whole range of drugs is prescribed.
- Medicines used to increase blood clotting properties.
- Drugs that strengthen the vascular wall.
- Products containing synthetic analogues of hormones.
- Drugs that promote contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus.
- Vitamin and mineral complex.
If menstruation lasts 2 weeks and not 3 days, and this factor is not associated with serious pathologies, then treatment may involve the use of traditional medicine recipes. The most effective remedy with a hemostatic effect is nettle. Nettle infusion is used to stop bleeding after childbirth.
In general, preventive measures to prevent menstrual irregularities are aimed at adjusting the diet and intensity of physical activity, as well as eliminating stressful situations.
Treatment
Menstrual irregularities should be treated taking into account their origin. When the examination managed to exclude certain diseases, the woman should first think about normalizing her lifestyle.
But if any pathology is confirmed, then only a doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment. You shouldn't even try to normalize the cycle yourself.
General recommendations
To restore the frequency and duration of menstruation, you should lead a healthy lifestyle. This requires your own efforts, and also involves following all the doctor’s recommendations for disease prevention. Women should follow simple rules:
- Eat properly.
- Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Pay enough attention to physical activity.
- Fight excess weight.
- Minimize exposure to stress factors.
Normalizing lifestyle helps not only overcome functional disorders, but also prevent many diseases.
Drug therapy
When it comes to pathology, drug correction becomes the basis of treatment. Each disease requires adequate therapy, so the necessary medications are prescribed by a doctor based on the diagnosis and condition of the woman’s body. The following medications are mainly used:
- Hormonal (combinations of estrogen and progesterone).
- Hemostatic.
- Vitamins and microelements.
- Antibiotics.
- Herbal medicines.
The doctor will tell you which medications should be taken in a particular case. He will determine the therapeutic dosage and course of administration.
Operation
In some cases, you even have to undergo surgery. This applies to tumor diseases, as well as inflammatory processes spreading to the peritoneum. Depending on the pathology, the following methods are used:
- Laparoscopic.
- Hysteroscopic.
- Open access transactions.
Duration of menstruation
It is believed that normal menstruation lasts from three to six days. But when the patient complains that the discharge continues for more than seven days, this indicates problems in the body.
There are situations when menstruation lasts more than six days. The exceptions are:
- Hereditary factor. In such situations, treatment is not carried out, since such a process is an individual feature of the body.
- Menstruation after abortion.
- The use of hormonal contraceptives or the use of a spiral as contraception.
- Menopause period.
- The appearance of the first menstruation. While the body gets used to the new hormonal background, menstruation may last longer than seven days (the formation of a cycle can take up to six months).
- Bleeding after childbirth.
If the patient does not belong to any of the above groups, then she needs to urgently consult a doctor. Prolonged bleeding of any nature requires urgent diagnosis.
Menstruation for more than 7 days – menorrhagia
If the duration of menstruation is more than 7 days, this phenomenon is called menorrhagia. This may be a symptom of hormonal imbalances or various pathologies of the reproductive system, most often neoplasms or inflammatory diseases.
- during the first menstruation during puberty;
- the first menstruation during recovery after childbirth and abortion.
In both cases, the woman’s health should be monitored by a doctor.
When your period lasts for two weeks, it is very dangerous, not only because of a possible illness. Heavy, prolonged discharge is fraught with significant blood loss and anemia (as its main consequence).
Bad habits, taking medications, stress
It happens that a woman, quite healthy, regularly visits the doctor, but she is still bothered by her periods, which last for more than a week. Why does this happen? First of all, you should pay attention to your lifestyle.
- Bad habits, abuse of alcohol, coffee and even strong tea can cause cycle disruption.
- Lack of proper nutrition and lack of vitamins.
- Stress, lack of sleep, change of time zone or climate zone.
- Taking medications.
- Incorrectly selected oral contraceptives.
From all of the above, we can conclude that women’s health should not be neglected.
If you have a long period lasting more than 10 days, you should immediately go to the hospital and do all the necessary examinations.
Many diseases can be asymptomatic for a long time. Therefore, we need to listen to our body; it often gives us signals that it is important to learn to decipher.
Help at home
When your period has been going on for 15 days, it is important to know what to do:
- Stop ongoing menstruation using available methods: tablets or herbal decoctions, the action of which blocks bleeding. All medications should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor. In case of urgent need to use the medicine, you must follow all the instructions given in the instructions for use.
- Immediately contact a gynecologist for a detailed examination. Modern diagnostic methods can be carried out if menstruation occurs. The main thing is that this does not affect the results obtained.
Menstruation lasting more than a week is a good reason to visit a gynecologist, because most pathologies that cause bleeding are asymptomatic for a long time.
If you are diagnosed with endometriosis, what should you do?
Endometriosis is a fairly common pathology, manifesting itself in women from 25 to 40 years old. With endometriosis, the lining of the uterus grows excessively and forms many cavities. With endometriosis, periods last more than 10 days, and minor bleeding occurs in the middle of the cycle. At first, the disease is asymptomatic, but later the following manifestations appear:
- unpleasant and painful sensations in the pelvic organs;
- painful and heavy menstruation with a large number of clots;
- prolonged spotting after menstruation;
- severe pain in the lower abdomen, lower back; with the development of the disease and the growth of the endometrium, it becomes permanent.
Hormones are used to simulate the complete absence of ovulation and egg release; foci of mucosal growth disappear. Treatment with hormones is a slow process. Often the course is extended over six months. You need to approach this type of treatment with caution, because... Hormonal drugs can cause serious side effects that are difficult to get rid of even after stopping treatment.
Birth control pills are prescribed in the initial stages of endometriosis
Long periods lasting more than 10 days are sometimes caused by neoplasms or tumors. Uterine fibroids are a benign tumor of muscle and connective tissue. The contraction (tone) of the uterus is disrupted due to the formation of multiple nodules in different places. Removal of the endometrium is delayed, and menstruation lasts more than a week.
Polyps are round growths of endometrial cells. These are also benign formations. They can reach six centimeters in size, have a protrusion, a leg, where a network of blood vessels is located. Mechanical influence on the polyp leads to bleeding in the middle of the cycle or prolonged menstruation, if uterine contractility is impaired. Polyps are dangerous because they can transform into a tumor. To remove them you need to scrape or burn them.
Endometrial polyp is a benign formation in the uterus
Reasons for two-week discharge
In medicine, prolonged periods are called menorrhagia. Normally, menstruation should last no more than 7 days; if the bleeding lasts longer, it means that the body has malfunctioned. The cycle is influenced by many factors, both internal and external. Any negative changes are reflected by poor or lengthy regulations.
If your period lasts for two weeks, the reasons for such a failure should be determined by a doctor; you will not be able to diagnose yourself.
Blood with clots may indicate an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo develops outside the uterus, or a risk of miscarriage. Most often, prolonged menstruation occurs for the following reasons:
- Long-term use of contraceptives - the hormones contained in such drugs provoke surges, which is why the regulation may be delayed. Some birth control pills are not suitable for a woman or are taken incorrectly. This is accompanied by sudden bleeding, which lasts longer than usual.
- Hormonal imbalance - disruptions can begin after the first menstruation, childbirth, or during menopause. A growing girl often faces hormonal imbalances. The cycle is just getting established, so the spotting lasts longer than usual. After giving birth, a woman breastfeeds her baby; in order for milk to come in, the body produces a lot of prolactin, which causes the regulation to lengthen. During menopause, menstruation may be present if the patient has pathological disorders of the uterine mucosa.
- Failure of the functioning of the endocrine system - often disturbances arise due to the appearance of nodes on the thyroid gland, changes in cholesterol and insulin levels. In this case, you need to visit an endocrinologist and do an ultrasound, otherwise there may be consequences in the form of breast disease.
- Uterine fibroids - the diagnosis indicates that a benign formation has appeared inside the uterus. The condition is dangerous due to the possibility of new bleeding after the regulation that has just been completed.
- Ovarian dysfunction - the ovaries take an active part in normalizing the cycle, so their improper functioning leads to malfunctions. Stressful situations, obesity, climate change disrupt the functions of the ovaries, but diseases that provoke hormonal imbalance have a more serious impact on them. These include infertility, premenstrual syndrome, amenorrhea, etc.
- Endometriosis is a disease characterized by an abnormal proliferation of cells in the lining of the uterus. Often the pathology proceeds without a trace, but a woman may complain of pain in the lower abdomen and during sex, menstrual irregularities, infertility and menorrhagia.
- Blood diseases - decreased platelet rate and clotting disorders. Platelets are responsible for stopping blood; if there are few of them, the regulation lengthens.
- Inflammatory pathologies - adnexitis, endometritis and specific diseases of the genital organs often cause menorrhagia. The process is accompanied by pain in the pelvic area, fever and various discharges. Chronic inflammation causes infertility.
- Hyperplasia is cell division at an increased rate. Because of this, polyps appear; if there are a lot of them, the regulation lasts for two weeks or more.
- Malignant tumors - symptoms are usually hidden, they appear after some time. Bleeding is the first sign of cancer.
First aid
Summarizing the above and the recommendations of specialists, we can draw certain conclusions about what should be done in case of excessively long periods. First of all, it should be taken into account that untimely painful periods, characterized by abundance and duration of more than 10 days, can be the result of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. In this case, it is the duration and profuseness of bleeding that are considered the main symptom.
In the case when menstruation lasts 15 days and does not intend to stop, pathological causes such as diseases of the genital organs, ovaries, hormonal imbalance due to endocrine diseases or hematogenous pathologies are possible. Of the non-pathological factors, the most common cause is the use of hormonal contraceptives.
All the reasons considered are extremely important in analyzing the etiology of prolonged bleeding, but they do not exhaust the entire list of possible provoking factors. If your period lasts more than 12 days, or if there is a significant amount of discharge, you should consult a doctor. Only a doctor can determine the pathology and prescribe treatment. Self-medication is not only not recommended, but prohibited without an accurate diagnosis of the type of pathology.
Self-treatment can only be aimed at implementing preventive measures and eliminating external causes. First of all, you need to organize proper nutrition, stop exhausting yourself with weight loss diets, and protect yourself as much as possible from stressful situations and physical overload.
My period has been going on for more than a week
It happens that menstruation lasts 6 days and does not end. What should you do in this case? Why does this happen?
Your period lasts more than 7 days: the reasons for this condition and is it worth doing something or not? Maybe everything will work itself out and menstruation will be restored? This question is asked by every woman faced with this pathology. The answer to this is of course unequivocal: no, menstruation will not recover on its own, and the symptoms will increase more and more, which can lead not only to the development of anemia, but also to a worsening of the cause, which in the future will be difficult to eliminate and eliminate.
Normally, menstruation lasts more than 7 days if a woman has a hereditary predisposition to long periods, she has had an abortion, uses hormonal contraceptives or mechanical means of contraception, in the postpartum period, and also if menstruation has just begun and not even six months have passed from menarche (first menstruation).
Why do my periods last more than a week? Only a doctor can find out this, and if you are faced with this problem, then you need to trust the professionals. Most often, the causes of prolonged menstruation in women of reproductive age are:
- impact of stress
- poor nutrition
- abuse of bad habits
- hormonal disbalance
- diseases of the reproductive organs
- use of COCs.
Every woman who is concerned about her health and reproductive function should know and remember that if periods last more than 7 days, they are heavy and painful, this is a very serious symptom of a disease of the reproductive system, which only a doctor can establish and identify. And only after an examination in the chair and collection of anamnesis, the doctor will be able to prescribe additional methods for diagnosing pathological blood loss and, after receiving their results, decide on a treatment plan. To clarify the cause of the disorders, it is often necessary to determine the hormonal background of the body, conduct an ultrasound or MRI, and also diagnose the pathology of the coagulation system.
Treatment and prevention
A woman should not think for a long time about what to do during long periods; of course, she should immediately seek help from a doctor who knows exactly how to stop uterine bleeding, which has been going on for a long time, in the shortest possible time with minimal harm to the female body.
Let's look at the main treatment methods and recommendations of professionals in more detail.
General recommendations
Delay can be dangerous to a woman’s health and life. The sooner the source of the problem is determined, the sooner the fair sex will be able to return to her daily activities.
If the blood loss is profuse, you should call an ambulance; before it arrives, the following recommendations will help alleviate the condition:
- lie down horizontally, raise your legs above body level; for convenience, you can place pillows or a bolster under them;
- A cold compress will help slightly reduce pain and slow down blood loss. You can take a bag of ice, a bottle of water, or any food items from the freezer. To avoid frostbite, apply the compress carefully and through a towel;
- Before the doctors arrive, you need to drink as much fluid as possible. This can be pure water without gas or sweet, weak tea. You should avoid soda and juices;
- if the blood loss is very severe, the ambulance is delayed, and the woman is already beginning to lose consciousness, it is necessary to give any hemostatic drug (Vikasol, Dicynon).
To quickly stop blood loss if your periods are long, the following medications may be prescribed:
- drugs that stop bleeding by improving blood clotting;
- means that strengthen vascular walls;
- hormone therapy;
- medications that improve contraction of the uterine muscles;
- vitamin complexes and nutritional supplements.
You don’t need to figure out how to stop your period on your own, don’t engage in amateur activities, because you can take hemostatic drugs only in life-threatening situations. If prolonged periods were caused by diseases of the internal organs, then inept administration of medication can only worsen the woman’s general condition.
Is 8 days period normal or not?
Some women are faced with the fact that their menstruation lasts eight days, and they often ask the question: “Is a period of 8 days normal or not?” According to statistics, the average duration of critical days lasts from three to seven days, but if menstruation lasts eight days, and the discharge is spotting and not abundant, then this is also considered a variant of the norm. But, if the bleeding lasts more than eight days, is profuse, painful and with clots, then you should immediately seek help from specialists. Menstruation for 8 days or more is a symptom that should not go unnoticed and ignored, because it is often the first sign of the development of any pathology in the body.
If your period lasts 8 days, your doctor should find out the reason. If this is a teenage girl whose cycle has not yet been established, and the debut of menstruation was no later than a year ago, then in this case such violations are possible, because there is still a physiological imbalance in the body, which is not immediately restored for everyone. The reason to consult a doctor in such cases is that your period lasts more than two weeks.
Menstruation is 8 days: their reasons are very diverse, but among them a special place is given to:
- postpartum period
- post-abortion period
- after an ectopic pregnancy
- perimenopausal period
- using hormones as contraception
- presence of an intrauterine device in the uterine cavity
- environmental actors. Among them, a special place is given to stress factors, physical activity, mental stress, improper rhythm of life and nutrition, as well as the presence of excess body weight
- Athology of the endocrine system is often accompanied by menstrual irregularities in the form of prolonged menstruation.
- A separate group of reasons that cause heavy periods is poor blood clotting ability
- detection of infectious or inflammatory changes in the reproductive organs is also often the cause of long periods.
Only through timely contact with specialists, early diagnosis and timely treatment is it often possible to eliminate the cause without consequences for the body. If a woman does not seek help from specialists for a long time or independently uses all sorts of methods to stop bleeding, then in this case the likelihood of complications developing is high.