Many women all over the world suffer from heavy bleeding each month during their menstrual cycle. Some women have underlying conditions that cause this heavier-than-normal flow, but regardless of the cause, heavy periods that last more than 7 days are not normal.
Today we are going to talk about tranexamic acid for heavy periods. We will provide an overview of this medication, how long it has been used, explain how it works, discuss the tranexamic acid dosage for heavy periods, and the pros and cons of its use.
What Is Tranexamic Acid And How Does It Work?
Tranexamic acid is a medication that is only available with a prescription that helps reduce heavy bleeding and is sometimes prescribed to women who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding.
During menstruation, the body breaks down blood clots to help the uterine lining break free and shed. If this process happens too quickly, it can cause heavier bleeding and an increase in blood loss. Taking tranexamic acid for heavy periods works to slow down how quickly the blood clots break down, which helps reduce the volume of blood lost during their period. This can help prevent conditions such as anemia or social anxiety caused by uncontrollable blood flow that disrupts their daily lives.
Because tranexamic acid does not involve any hormones like birth control pills or IUDs, it may be a better choice for those who need a non-hormonal alternative due to medical reasons.
Is Tranexamic Acid Approved By The FDA?
Yes, tranexamic acid was approved for use in the United States by the FDA in 2009 under the brand name Lysteda for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. This prescription medication has already been used for many years around the world for other conditions and for preventing substantial blood loss during certain surgeries or after a traumatic injury.
How Effective Is Tranexamic Acid For Heavy Periods?
Research has shown that tranexamic acid can reduce heavy menstrual bleeding anywhere between 26 and 60% of women who use it during their periods.
It is very important to follow your doctor’s instructions regarding the tranexamic acid dosage for heavy periods and the dosing schedule. You should not take this medication unless you are currently experiencing your menstrual cycle, and it is to be taken three times a day for up to five days during your cycle. It normally does not stop the bleeding entirely but significantly reduces the flow volume.
What Are Some Pros And Cons Of Using Tranexamic Acid For Heavy Periods?
With any type of medication, there are always benefits and drawbacks, including the risks of side effects. You will find the most common pros and cons of using tranexamic acid for heavy periods below.
Pros Of Using Tranexamic Acid To Control Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Include:
- Tranexamic acid is a very safe medication (in the same family of medications as ibuprofen);
- It does not involve using hormones, which makes it an option for more women, especially those who are unable to use other methods such as oral contraceptives or IUDs;
- It does not have the side effects of hormonal therapy which include weight gain, moodiness, or acne as side effects like treatments that involve hormones;
- It is effective in reducing heavy bleeding for many women;
- It only needs to be taken for a short time each month during the menstrual cycle;
- It can improve a woman’s quality of life.
Cons Of Using Tranexamic Acid To Control Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Include:
- Extremely safe medication, but it cannot be taken by those who are allergic to ibuprofen;
- The medication only treats one symptom of what could be a larger problem;
- It is 6 pills per day for up to 5 days which some may find cumbersome to take so many pills.
Is It Prescribed For Women With Fibroids?
Some doctors prescribe it as a first-line treatment to help women with fibroids control the amount of bleeding they experience during their period. One downside of relying on this medication is that if the bleeding is due to fibroids it does not treat the culprit; but merely the symptom.
Women who bleed heavily from fibroids are often anemic and their hemoglobin and iron levels can be too low to safely perform surgery. Tranexamic acid can then be prescribed to slow down the bleeding and lead to a rise in the woman’s hemoglobin and iron to a level that it would be safe to perform uterine surgery on her.
Uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous growths that grow in and on the uterus, are the most common cause of abnormally heavy uterine bleeding. However, fibroids can cause many other symptoms that can affect a woman’s quality of life. In addition to heavy and prolonged bleeding, other symptoms that can be caused by fibroids include back and leg pain, pressure and pain in the abdomen, frequent urination, pain during sex, reproductive issues, complications during pregnancy, and an enlarged uterus.
Would Tranexamic Acid Be A Good Treatment For Fibroids?
Tranexamic acid may be an adequate short-term solution for a woman who does not have any other fibroid symptoms and is only dealing with extra heavy bleeding during her menstrual cycle. The medication does not shrink or treat the fibroids themselves, and a more effective method of treatment would be to eliminate the fibroids, which will eliminate all the symptoms they create.
What Is Better Than Tranexamic Acid For Fibroids Treatment?
If the heavy periods are due to uterine fibroids, uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) procedure can permanently eliminate all of the fibroid symptoms without any surgery.
UFE is an outpatient procedure that can be used to eliminate heavy bleeding and other symptoms caused by uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. It is performed by a specially trained interventional radiologist and involves blocking the tiny blood vessels that are feeding the fibroids and keeping them alive. These blood vessels that are attached to the uterine artery are basically hijacked by the fibroid to divert blood away from its intended destination to be used to keep them alive and promote their growth. When this blood supply is cut off, the fibroids shrink and die, which eventually eliminates the symptoms they have been causing.
UFE preserves your uterus and your fertility, unlike some of the other surgical forms of fibroid treatment. In addition, while women with heavy periods from fibroids are often anemic to such a degree they cannot undergo surgery, that is not an issue with UFE. With UFE, there is no blood loss and therefore women can undergo UFE that could never safely undergo surgery. Also, women who are Jehovah’s Witnesses who do not accept blood products and therefore avoid fibroid surgery can safely undergo UFE without any worry whatsoever!
The Atlanta Fibroid Center Has Helped Women From
The Atlanta Fibroid Center has helped women from Atlanta, Georgia, and far beyond, including other states and countries, have found help and relief from their fibroid symptoms at the Atlanta Fibroid Center.
Dr. Lipman is an interventional radiologist who is known worldwide for his expertise in treating fibroids through uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). He has over 25 years of experience and more than 10,000 UFE procedures to his credit and is considered one of the most experienced UFE specialists in the world.
If you have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids or have been told you need surgery to treat your fibroids, contact the Atlanta Fibroid Center and set up a consultation to learn more. Almost everyone with fibroids is a candidate for UFE, so there is no reason to suffer any longer. No hospital stay, no surgery, and no long recovery period make UFE a great choice to eliminate heavy bleeding and the other nasty fibroid symptoms that rob your quality of life. Contact us today and find out how UFE can help you.
