What is Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia is when your menstrual periods are heavy or last longer than normal.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines exactly as told by your doctor. This includes iron pills.
• Do not change or switch medicines without asking your doctor.
• Do not take aspirin or medicines that contain aspirin 1 week before or during your period. Aspirin may make bleeding worse.

General instructions

• If you need to change your pad or tampon more than once every 2 hours, limit your activity until the bleeding stops.
• Iron pills can cause problems when pooping (constipation). To prevent or treat pooping problems while taking prescription iron pills, your doctor may suggest that you:
  • Drink enough fluid to keep your pee (urine) clear or pale yellow.
  • Take over-the-counter or prescription medicines.
  • Eat foods that are high in fiber. These foods include:
    • Fresh fruits and vegetables.
    • Whole grains.
    • Beans.
  • Limit foods that are high in fat and processed sugars. This includes fried and sweet foods.
• Eat healthy meals and foods that are high in iron. Foods that have a lot of iron include:
  • Leafy green vegetables.
  • Meat.
  • Liver.
  • Eggs.
  • Whole grain breads and cereals.
• Do not try to lose weight until your heavy bleeding has stopped and you have normal amounts of iron in your blood. If you need to lose weight, work with your doctor.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if:

• You soak through a pad or tampon every 1 or 2 hours, and this happens every time you have a period.
• You need to use pads and tampons at the same time because you are bleeding so much.
• You are taking medicine and you:
  • Feel sick to your stomach (nauseous).
  • Throw up (vomit).
  • Have watery poop (diarrhea).
• You have other problems that may be related to the medicine you are taking.

Get help right away if:

• You soak through more than a pad or tampon in 1 hour.
• You pass clots bigger than 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.
• You feel short of breath.
• You feel like your heart is beating too fast.
• You feel dizzy or you pass out (faint).
• You feel very weak or tired.

Summary

• Menorrhagia is when your menstrual periods are heavy or last longer than normal.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines exactly as told by your doctor. This includes iron pills.
• Contact a doctor if you soak through more than a pad or tampon in 1 hour or are passing large clots.