Heavy Periods Treatment in Bengaluru

Key takeaways

• Periods are too heavy if they interfere with your physical, social or emotional life, not just if they pass a set amount of blood.
• Heavy menstrual bleeding is common and very treatable.
• Checking for anaemia is an important first step.
• Most women do well with medicines or a hormonal IUS; surgery is not usually the first choice.
• New bleeding after 40, between periods or after menopause needs prompt evaluation.

What counts as heavy menstrual bleeding?

Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) means periods that are heavy enough to affect your quality of life. Medically, losing more than 80 ml per cycle or bleeding for more than 7 days is considered heavy.

In everyday terms, your periods may be heavy if you:

• need to change a pad or tampon every 1–2 hours, or use two at a time;
• pass clots larger than a ₹2 coin;
• wake at night to change protection or leak through clothes and bedding;
• bleed for more than 7 days;
• feel tired, breathless or dizzy because of low haemoglobin.

What causes heavy periods?

Gynaecologists use the PALM-COEIN system to group causes into structural problems and non-structural ones.

Who needs treatment for heavy periods?

Anyone whose periods disrupt daily life, cause anaemia, or have changed noticeably should be assessed and offered treatment.

Teenagers with very heavy periods from their first period should be checked for a bleeding disorder. Women over 40, and anyone with risk factors such as obesity, diabetes or PCOS, may need an assessment of the womb lining to rule out hyperplasia.

What to expect: step by step

1. History: your cycle pattern, how heavy and long the bleeding is, pain, contraception and pregnancy plans, and any easy bruising.
2. Examination: a general check for anaemia and a pelvic examination where appropriate.
3. Tests: haemoglobin, iron (ferritin), thyroid function; a pregnancy test; clotting tests if a bleeding disorder is suspected.
4. Ultrasound: a transvaginal or abdominal scan for fibroids, polyps, adenomyosis or a thick lining.
5. Further tests if needed: an endometrial biopsy or hysteroscopy to look inside the uterus.
6. Treatment and review: treatment is agreed with you and reviewed after about 3 months.

What are the treatment options?

Medicines

• Tranexamic acid: taken only on heavy days; reduces blood loss by around a third to a half.
• NSAIDs (mefenamic acid): reduce bleeding and cramps.
• Hormonal options: combined pills, cyclical or continuous progestins, and the levonorgestrel IUS, which is often the most effective long-term medical option.
• Iron: tablets or intravenous iron to correct anaemia.

Procedures

• Hysteroscopic polypectomy or myomectomy: removes polyps or submucosal fibroids through the cervix without cuts.
• Endometrial ablation: destroys the lining in women who do not want future pregnancy.
• Hysterectomy: a permanent solution when other treatments fail and the family is complete.

What results can you realistically expect?

Most women achieve a significant reduction in bleeding with the right treatment, and many find their energy improves once anaemia is corrected. The hormonal IUS reduces bleeding substantially over 3–6 months and many users have very light periods or none. Results depend on the underlying cause: removing a polyp usually solves the problem quickly, while adenomyosis may need ongoing treatment.

What are the risks and side effects?

• Tranexamic acid: mild stomach upset; not suitable for women with a history of blood clots.
• Hormonal treatment: spotting, bloating, breast tenderness, mood changes.
• Procedures: infection, bleeding and, rarely, perforation of the uterus; ablation is not suitable if you may want a pregnancy.

Recovery and aftercare

Medicines need no recovery time. After hysteroscopic procedures most women go home the same day and resume normal work in 1–3 days, with light spotting for up to a week. Keep a simple period diary, continue iron until your haemoglobin and ferritin are normal, and attend your review appointment.

What does heavy periods treatment cost?

Costs depend on the cause and treatment, including consultation, blood tests and ultrasound, the medicines or IUS device, and for procedures, the hospital, anaesthesia and day-care charges. An estimate is shared once your tests are reviewed.

When to see a doctor

See a gynaecologist if your periods affect daily life, you have symptoms of anaemia, you bleed between periods or after sex, or your periods suddenly become heavier after 40. Go to an emergency department for bleeding that soaks a pad every hour for several hours, or with dizziness, fainting or a racing heart.

Why choose Dr. Divya Venugopalan?

Dr. Divya Venugopalan is a gynaecologist with over 14 years of experience and an MBBS from KIMS, Bengaluru, a DNB in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, an FRM and an FMAS. She looks for the cause rather than just treating the bleeding, and can perform hysteroscopic procedures when needed. She also cares for related conditions such as adenomyosis.

She consults at Thanisandra, Sahakar Nagar and HRBR Layout. Book a consultation.