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Excessive Menstrual Bleeding
 

If your menstrual periods are so heavy that they affect your normal activities, you may have excessive menstrual bleeding. The medical term for periods that are very heavy, last longer than normal or both is menorrhagia. Symptoms may also include cramping, pelvic pain and anemia.

Excessive menstrual bleeding is a common condition that occurs for many of reasons. Two of the most common causes are: a hormone imbalance and uterine growths.
 

Hormone Imbalances

Your menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. When these hormones are out of balance, they can cause heavy periods or bleeding between periods. Causes of hormonal imbalances may include:

  • Hormone changes in teens and in women nearing menopause

  • Diabetes

  • Thyroid disease

  • Obesity

  • Stress

  • Strenuous exercise

  • Anorexia (eating disorder)

 

Types of Uterine Growths

  • Fibroids - benign (non-cancerous) growths in or near the uterus

  • Polyps - growths that attach to the inner wall of the uterus and protrude into the uterine cavity

  • Adenomyosis - endometrial tissue normally lining the uterus grows into the muscular walls of the uterus

  • Endometriosis- tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus grows outside your uterus

  • Endometrial cancer - an uncontrolled growth of cells of the uterine lining

  • Hyperplasia - an abnormal proliferation of cells (cell division or growth) that may result in enlargement (growth) of the uterus. This term is sometimes used to refer to a benign tumor or fibroid.

All surgery presents risk, including da Vinci Surgery. Results, including cosmetic results, may vary. Serious complications may occur in any surgery, up to and including death. Examples of serious and life-threatening complications, which may require hospitalization, include injury to tissues or organs; bleeding; infection, and internal scarring that can cause long-lasting dysfunction or pain. Temporary pain or nerve injury has been linked to the inverted position often used during abdominal and pelvic surgery. Patients should understand that risks of surgery include potential for human error and potential for equipment failure. Risk specific to minimally invasive surgery may include: a longer operative time; the need to convert the procedure to an open approach; or the need for additional or larger incision sites. Converting the procedure to open could mean a longer operative time, long time under anesthesia, and could lead to increased complications. Research suggests that there may be an increased risk of incision-site hernia with single-incision surgery. Patients who bleed easily, have abnormal blood clotting, are pregnant or morbidly obese are typically not candidates for minimally invasive surgery, including da Vinci Surgery. Other surgical approaches are available. Patients should review the risks associated with all surgical approaches. They should talk to their doctors about their surgical experience and to decide if da Vinci is right for them. For more complete information on surgical risks, safety and indications for use, please refer to http://www.davincisurgery.com/da-vinci-surgery/safety-information.php.

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