Tips to stop Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Managing heavy menstrual bleeding involves strategic nutrition and medical interventions, so, Here are effective Tips to stop Heavy Menstrual Bleeding:
- Hydration and Electrolytes: It’s beneficial to drink an additional 4 to 6 cups of water during heavy bleeding to maintain blood volume. Balancing electrolytes by adding a pinch of salt or increasing intake helps regulate fluid levels.
- Iron-Rich Foods: Heavy menstrual cycles can deplete iron stores essential for hemoglobin production. Including foods like shellfish, spinach, organ meats, legumes, red meats, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, turkey, broccoli, and tofu helps replenish iron levels.
- Cooking Techniques: Utilizing a cast-iron skillet enhances iron absorption, especially in moist dishes like sauces. Stirring food frequently aids in transferring iron, though moderation is key to avoid excessive intake.
- Vitamin C: Enhances iron absorption and potentially reduces bleeding. Sources such as Kakadu plums, acerola cherries, rose hips, green chili peppers, guavas, yellow bell peppers, black currants, parsley, mustard spinach, and kale are rich in vitamin C.
- Blackstrap Molasses: Rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, and selenium, blackstrap molasses provides nutritional benefits. Substituting brown sugar with blackstrap molasses enriches diets during menstruation.
Prescription medication for heavy menstruation
- Medications and Supplements: Before starting new vitamins, minerals, or supplements, consulting healthcare professionals is crucial. They can assess medical necessity, recommend appropriate doses, and discuss potential side effects or interactions.
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) Pain Relievers: Acetaminophen helps alleviate menstrual discomfort, while NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen reduce inflammation and blood loss. Avoiding aspirin is advisable due to its tendency to increase bleeding risk.
- Hormonal Birth Control: Options such as hormonal IUDs releasing levonorgestrel, progestin-dominant oral contraceptives, and combination pills help reduce bleeding and cramping by thinning the uterine lining. Progestin tablets and GnRH therapies also contribute to managing heavy periods.
- Antifibrinolytic Drugs: Tranexamic acid and other antifibrinolytics effectively reduce menstrual bleeding by preventing excessive blood clot breakdown.
- Minimally Invasive Procedures: In severe cases, procedures like High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE), Myomectomy, Endometrial Ablation, Endometrial Resection, or Hysterectomy provide long-term relief from heavy menstrual bleeding.
Understanding these approaches empowers individuals to effectively manage heavy menstrual bleeding. Seeking guidance from healthcare providers ensures personalized care, optimizes treatment outcomes, and supports overall well-being during menstruation and beyond.