Normal Menstruation

Each month the endometrium, or lining of the uterus, builds up and sheds- This is called the menstrual cycle. The hormones estrogen and progesterone cause changes in the lining. An average menstrual cycle lasts about 28 days, counting from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. Bleeding normally lasts about 5—7 days.

Most women lose about 1/4 cup of blood during their period, although it may seem like more. Some women have longer periods or heavier bleeding.

Heavy Bleeding

One in five women has heavy bleeding at some point during her childbearing years. Heavy bleeding is most common for women between ages 40 and 5O, as they approach menopause. It also can be caused by hormonal changes or certain medical conditions, such as problems with blood clotting. Although there are other causes of heavy bleeding, such as growths, ablation is not used to treat these problems.

Losing too much blood can lead to anemia (lack of iron in the blood). It also can affect your ability to do the things you need to do. In most cases, the doctor first tries to treat the bleeding with medication. If the bleeding can’t be controlled, ablation may be used.