Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Heavy menstrual bleeding refers to heavy periods that interfere with a woman’s physical or emotional health and adversely impact on her quality of life. In the early 1990s it was estimated that over 60% of women presenting with heavy menstrual bleeding went on to have hysterectomy which was often the only treatment offered. Fibroids are only one possible underlying cause of heavy periods and in many cases no definite underlying cause is found. Treatment of any sort should aim to improve the woman’s quality of life rather than focusing purely on the amount of blood loss.

In recent years the number of hysterectomies performed has been declining and there is now a whole range of treatments for women suffering from heavy periods that do not involve major surgery. These range from various drug treatments (in tablet, injection or implant forms) to endometrial ablation treatments to minimally invasive treatments for fibroids like uterine artery embolisation and MRI guided focused ultrasound ablation (MRfFUS). With their combined expertise our specialists at the Birmingham Fibroid Clinic can advise on and deliver the full range of treatment options available.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK has published Guidance for treatment and care of women with heavy periods and copies of the patient information leaflet for this guidance can be downloaded from our downloads section 

For more information or to make an appointment please contact us.