menorrhagia
Meaning of menorrhagia: Menorrhagia is menstrual bleeding that is unusually heavy or prolonged, sometimes affecting daily activities or leading to a loss of iron over time.
Definition of menorrhagia
Menorrhagia describes menstrual periods that involve an abnormally large amount of blood loss, an unusually long duration, or both, compared with typical menstrual bleeding. It can present as needing to change protection very frequently, passing large clots, or bleeding that continues well beyond the usual number of days.
Possible causes include hormonal imbalances, structural conditions of the uterus such as fibroids or polyps, certain bleeding disorders, and some medications. In some cases, no specific structural or hormonal cause is identified.
Because menorrhagia can lead to a significant loss of blood over time, it is sometimes associated with iron deficiency, and the evaluation typically includes a review of bleeding patterns along with laboratory testing and, in some cases, imaging of the uterus.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The patient was referred for evaluation of menorrhagia after reporting several months of unusually heavy periods.
Good to know
Menorrhagia refers specifically to heavy or prolonged bleeding during a period, which is distinct from bleeding that occurs between periods, sometimes called intermenstrual bleeding.
Word origin
Where “menorrhagia” comes from
Formed from meno-, from Greek men, meaning "month," and -rrhagia, from Greek rhegnynai, meaning "to burst forth."