HEAVY MENSTRUAL BLEEDING Women of all ages come to Healthy Woman with concerns about their menstrual cycle. Excessive or irregular bleeding is a common complaint. Approximately 1 in 5 women experience heavy menstrual bleeding and there are times when it is not unusual for a woman's periods to be somewhat irregular.
CAUSES There are many causes for abnormal bleeding and women can experience it at any age. Sometimes, it occurs because of a problem with hormones - the body makes too much or not enough of a certain hormone. Other causes for abnormal bleeding include pregnancy, miscarriage, problems linked to some birth control methods or medications, infections, fibroids and polyps, certain types of cancers and chronic conditions such as thyroid problems and diabetes.
DIAGNOSIS The right solution for you will depend on the cause and severity of your bleeding, your age and other factors. To diagnose your situation, you will need a physical exam and may also need to have blood tests to check your hormone levels, or to see if you are pregnant.
SOLUTIONS Therapy for heavy bleeding may include iron supplements, anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, oral contraceptives or progesterone. If drug therapy is unsuccessful, a number of options are available including minimally invasive procedures.
At Healthy Woman, many patients suffering with heavy bleeding have had excellent results with an in-office, minimally invasive freezing procedure called Cryoablation. The technique uses sub-zero temperatures to destroy or freeze the uterine lining. When the endometrium is eliminated, there is less tissue to shed each period, and therefore, dramatically less or no menstrual bleeding.
FEEL YOUR BEST At Healthy Woman, we want to help you feel your best at every age. If you're concerned about menstrual irregularities, talk with Dr. Felipe Garcia-Ghinis about your symptoms. Dr. Garcia-Ghinis will be glad to meet with you and develop an individual approach for your treatment.
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HPV & CERVICAL CANCER
Cervical cancer affects approximately 10,000 women in the United States each year. It is the second most common type of cancer for women worldwide.
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers today. Regular Pap testing is the best method to protect against invasive cervical cancer. Pap tests will help detect any precancerous or abnormal cells early enough so that cervical cancer can be prevented.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is found in about 99% of cervical cancers. HPV is estimated to be the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The majority of women infected with the HPV virus do not develop cervical cancer. A small proportion of women do not clear the HPV virus and are considered to have persistent infection. A woman with a persistent HPV infection is at greater risk of developing cervical cell abnormalities and cancer.
Receiving a safe and effective HPV vaccine to help prevent genital HPV infection, as well as the HPV-associated diseases of genital warts and cervical cancer, is an important prevention measure.
