Women: What to do when 'normal' doesn't apply to your monthly cycle
by ARA
Jan 16, 2013 | 35016 views | 0 0 comments | 469 469 recommendations | email to a friend | print
(BPT) - Many women think they suffer from heavy monthly periods and don’t realize that they have a medical condition.

A recent TNS survey of 1,200 women revealed that one in 10 women reported they endure heavy monthly periods. Women stated that they feel embarrassed during this time of the month and that it interferes with various aspects of their daily lives. In fact, half of the women surveyed said they do not discuss their heavy monthly periods with their healthcare providers.

“Women do not need to suffer in silence,” says Dr. Diana Ramos, assistant clinical professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Keck USC School of Medicine, California. “It is important for a woman to speak with her healthcare provider about her symptoms and ask what options are available.”

Survey results also indicated women undergo extreme measures, such as adjusting social schedules and activities to cope with the symptoms of heavy monthly periods. This includes missing a date (16 percent), missing days of work (20 percent), not wearing a bathing suit (50 percent) or even skipping out on an event with friends (22 percent) in order to manage their condition.

Here are some ways to take control of your cycle:

1. Educate yourself.

Many women are not knowledgeable about the medical definition of what’s considered a normal period. While it is difficult to determine what a “normal” period is, there are several tell-tale signs and symptoms that women should discuss with their healthcare professional, which could include:

* Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours

* Needing to use double sanitary protection

* Needing to wake up to change sanitary protection during the night

* Passing large blood clots with menstrual flow

2. Talk to your healthcare provider.

Despite a large number of women who believe they suffer from heavy periods, embarrassment deters many from discussing the condition with their healthcare provider.

"They think it's just part of being a woman," says Ramos. “Many of my patients don’t realize that there are options that can help them.”

3. Find solutions.

In addition to speaking with a healthcare provider about heavy menstrual bleeding, there are other resources that could help fill this knowledge gap. Women can access information through www.myheavymonthlyperiods.com.
Share This Free article |
report abuse...

Express yourself:

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.