Heavy menstrual bleeding is a condition that is characterised by having heavy or prolonged periods. It can impact a young girl’s quality of life, school attendance, and participation in sports and other social activities.
A diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding may be considered if the period lasts longer than a week, if bleeding is heavy enough to soak through a pad or tampon every hour or less, if an unexpected onset of blood flow is experienced that is similar to the action of turning on a faucet, or blood clots are found that measure larger than 1 inch in diameter.
Several factors have been linked to heavy menstrual bleeding in young girls such as hormonal imbalances between progesterone and estrogen, bleeding disorders such as Von Willebrand disease, pelvic infections, and structural problems including the presence of polyps in the cervix or uterus or uterine fibroids. A common complication of heavy menstrual bleeding is low iron levels because of the great loss of blood.
A pelvic ultrasound will investigate the cause of the heavy bleeding and to rule out structural problems in the pelvis.
Please click here for information about what you need to do before your appointment, how to prepare for your ultrasound, and what you need to bring on the day of your appointment.