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MICHIGAN WOMEN'S HEALTH
Specialized care for special patients. St. Joseph Mercy Oakland offers a wide range of services, from mammography scans to stroke care to OBGYN screening tests, dedicated to improving the health of women in Detroit and throughout Michigan.
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CLICK HERE FOR A FREE COPY
OF THE MEDICAL REPORT
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Jonathan Zaidan, MD
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland
OB/GYN
View Profile
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THE FACTS ABOUT Heavy Bleeding
Background
Menorrhagia, or abnormal heavy menstrual bleeding,is caused by a number of factors, including hormonal imbalance, uterine fibroids, polyps, ovarian cysts, and dysfunction of the ovaries.
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Podcast Posted: 08/10/2007
Duration:
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“Fortunately, there are a host of effective treatment options for women suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding,”says Dr. Jonathan Zaidan, M.D., OB/GYN, “Specific treatment is based on patient’s overall health and medical history, the extent and cause of the condition, and tolerance for specific medications and therapies.”
Treating heavy menstrual periods with a hormone releasing intrauterine device (IUD) may be just as good as potentially riskier surgery for improving women’s quality of life. Researchers found that women treated with an IUD were just as likely to be satisfied with their treatment as women who underwent conservative surgery.
Common drug therapies include iron supplements, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), oral contraceptives, and progesterone.
If drug therapy is unsuccessful,surgical treatment options range from dilation and curettage(D&C) to hysterectomy — the surgical removal of the uterus and cervix.
More conservative surgical options for treating heavy menstrual bleeding include an electric loop, laser, or hot water balloon to remove or destroy the lining of the uterus.These procedures have fewer risks than a hysterectomy and can be done on an outpatient basis. Conservative surgery destroys only the lining of the uterus, whereas a hysterectomy removes the entire uterus.
Satisfaction with treatment is probably more meaning ful than estimates of blood loss. While conservative surgery reduced blood loss more than the IUD, the two treatments appeared about equal in terms of patient satisfaction.
When comparing the effectiveness of surgery vs. IUD or oral drug treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding, results indicate that a hysterectomy is the only treatment that is completely effective — because it ends menstruation.However, it also carries the highest risk. Additionally, it is not a viable option for women who plan to have children.
Please contact the SJMO referral line at (800) 372-6094for a gynecologist near you.
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