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When menstruation lasts more than 8 days, it may be a sign that the woman has some alteration in her reproductive system. In this case, continuous blood loss can lead to symptoms such as weakness, dizziness or anemia, due to an intense loss of blood.
Prolonged coffee grounds like menstruation can be a sign of an STD, endometriosis, myoma and even a possible pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to consult a gynecologist to find out the cause and start treatment, if necessary.
Possible causes
Normal menstruation lasts 4 to 7 days and the most common is that it will be more intense in the first two days and will decrease and become darker after that. When menstruation lasts more than 8 days, one must pay attention to the amount of blood lost and its color.
Changing the pad more than 6 times a day may indicate that menstruation is very intense and, if the color is too red or too dark, like coffee grounds, this can be a warning sign, and a gynecologist should be consulted.
Some possible causes of prolonged menstruation are:
- Uterine myoma;
- Hormonal changes;
- Ovulation problems;
- Polyps in the uterus;
- Hemorrhagic diseases like hemophilia;
- Use of copper IUDs;
- Cancer;
- Use of medicines.
To find out exactly what is causing this change in menstruation, the doctor can look at the genital region, perform a touch exam with a vaginal speculum and order tests such as a pap smear or colposcopy. Sometimes, taking the contraceptive is enough to stop menstruation, but in any case, its causes must be investigated by the doctor. After knowing what was really causing the prolongation of menstruation, the doctor may suggest other treatments such as cryosurgery to remove warts or polyps, for example.
What to do
The woman should make an appointment with a gynecologist, so that he can indicate the best treatment, which can be done with:
- Use of the pill, to regulate the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone in the body,
- Iron supplements to treat anemia;
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, to reduce bleeding.
In the most severe cases, dilatation and curettage of the uterus, removal of the endometrium or cervix may be necessary, although these procedures are avoided in young women who have not yet had children, as they reduce the possibility of pregnancy.
In addition, there are home remedies, such as cabbage juice and tea made with raspberry leaves and herbal tea that can help tone the uterus, being useful to complement the treatment indicated by the doctor. See how to prepare each of these natural recipes.
When prolonged menstruation is normal
It is normal for menstruation to be irregular and last longer after taking the morning-after pill. In addition, it is also common in adolescents who still do not have their regular cycle and in women who are entering menopause, because at these ages hormonal variations occur.