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Prolonged menstruation occurs if menstrual bleeding lasts more than 7 days. Although each woman has a different duration and amount of menstrual bleeding, generally normal menstruation lasts between 2-7 days.

Medically, menstruation that exceeds one week can be classified as a condition called menorrhagia. If it occurs only occasionally, prolonged menstruation is not a dangerous condition.

Prolonged menstruation only needs to be watched out for if it occurs continuously or appears accompanied by other complaints such as weakness or a lot of blood coming out during menstruation.

This condition is a sign that prolonged menstruation may be caused by certain health problems that need to be treated by a doctor.

Recognizing the Various Causes of Prolonged Menstruation

In some cases, the cause of prolonged menstruation cannot always be known for certain. However, there are several things that are thought to cause prolonged menstruation, including:

1. Hormonal imbalance

Imbalanced hormonal conditions can affect the menstrual process. When the number of hormones in a woman's body is not balanced, the uterine wall tissue or endometrium can shed excessively, causing excessive menstrual bleeding.

This hormonal disorder can be caused by several medical conditions, such as obesity, PCOS, brain tumors and thyroid disorders.

2. Ovarian dysfunction

Disruption of the ovaries can cause disruption in the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone which play a role in regulating menstruation. Therefore, problems with the ovaries can cause menstrual disorders such as irregular menstruation or prolonged menstruation.

3. Fibroids

Uterine fibroids or also called myomas are benign (non-cancerous) tissue that grows and attaches to the uterine wall. Fibroids can cause heavy vaginal bleeding, prolonged menstruation, and pain during menstruation.

4. Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue, namely tissue in the inner lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis can cause abnormal bleeding and cramping or pain before and during menstruation.

5. Pelvic inflammation

Pelvic inflammation or also known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection that causes inflammation of the female reproductive system. This inflammation causes symptoms of pain in the pelvic area and lower abdomen, and can cause prolonged menstruation.

Pelvic inflammation can occur due to risky sexual activities, for example having more than one sexual partner or frequently having sex without a condom, a history of abortion or miscarriage, and the use of spiral birth control (IUD).

Other causes of prolonged menstruation include uterine cancer, cervical cancer, as well as side effects of drugs such as birth control pills and blood thinning drugs. Women who suffer from blood disorders may also experience prolonged menstruation.

How to Deal with Prolonged Menstruation

Because it can be caused by many things, you should see a doctor if you experience prolonged menstruation.

To confirm the diagnosis of prolonged menstruation and find out the cause, the doctor will carry out a physical examination and supporting examinations in the form of blood tests, uterine ultrasound, X-ray of the uterus (HSG), biopsy of uterine tissue, or Pap smear.

After the doctor confirms that you are diagnosed with menorrhagia, the doctor can provide treatment according to the cause.

The following are several treatment steps that a doctor can take to overcome the complaints of prolonged menstruation that you are experiencing:

Administration of medication

Medications that can be given to treat prolonged menstruation are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as paracetamol. This drug can be used to relieve pain that occurs along with complaints of prolonged menstruation.

In addition, doctors can also prescribe drugs to stop bleeding, such as tranexamic acid.

Hormonal therapy

Hormonal therapy can be done if your prolonged menstrual condition is caused by hormonal disorders. Hormone therapy can take the form of administering the hormones progesterone and estrogen, for example through the use of birth control pills or other methods of delaying menstruation.

However, if you are not suitable for using birth control pills, your doctor may prescribe other types of hormonal drugs.

Operation

The doctor may recommend surgery to treat prolonged menstruation caused by tumors or cancer in the uterus.

Sometimes, prolonged menstruation can cause you to experience complications in the form of anemia or anemia because of the large amount of blood that comes out during menstruation. To overcome this problem, the doctor can give iron supplements or give a blood transfusion, if your blood count has decreased drastically.

The condition of prolonged menstruation should not be left for too long until it drags on and gets worse. Therefore, you should immediately see a doctor if you experience complaints of prolonged menstruation that does not improve.

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