Uterine bleeding can be caused by a number of ailments that include injury and also the presence of tumors in the uterus. Improper placement of an intrauterine device can also be the cause of the problem but in most cases, excessive bleeding is a result of the normal menstrual cycle gone wrong. The clinical term for heavy blood loss during a menses is called menorrhagia. It is worth noting that uterine bleeding can also be the result of a miscarriage that some women can mistake for a heavy period. This is something that is quite possible during the first trimester of pregnancy. Miscarriages are usually caused when the body rejects the fetus. The most common reason for this occurring is because the fetus is abnormal. The woman’s body will then immediately induce a period and destroy the endometrium and the fetus will be ejected in menses.
In women after a certain age, there can be a defect in the ovary-pituitary axis. This system is controlled by the release of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulation hormone. As a woman grows older, the follicles in her ovaries stop responding to follicle stimulating hormone or an egg never develops. If an egg does not develop, there will be no progesterone secretions from the corpus luteum and this means that only estrogen is present. Excessive estrogen will then cause the endometrial lining to build up until the ejection volume of blood is abnormal and menses last more than the normal five days. Infections like Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or PID is a major problem that is associated with the pelvic region and can cause bleeding. This can be caused by vaginal infections that have been allowed to go on for too long as well as sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Treating a case of hormonal imbalances that cause menorrhagia is a matter of inducing progesterone in the body. This is usually done with drugs like norethisterone, which is a progestin or synthetic precursor to progesterone. This will cause the endometrial tissue to stop growing during periods when menses do not occur and when menses do occur, the normal amount of blood loss follows. Note that this is a treatment that has to be followed for a few years before normalcy is obtained. While the underlying cause of uterine bleeding lies in infection or a miscarriage, it is important that one seeks immediate medical help. Not using IUD’s is also advised and in the worst case, a hysterectomy.