|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Many women have heavy menstrual bleeding and don’t realize it. You may think it’s normal to have a lot of bleeding the first few days of their period. If you are changing your pads frequently, missing work, or avoiding activities due to heavy bleeding, then it’s too heavy. Over time, you may become tired because their body’s iron is depleted. As many as 25% of all women with menstrual periods have low iron due to bleeding.
To address this, many women’s health experts prescribe estrogen or progesterone. During the past ten years TXA (tranexamic acid), a non-hormone alternative, has been proven to be safe and effective for women to take to decrease the amount of bleeding during their periods. TXA requires a prescription, but any doctor can prescribe it.
Once you’ve addressed the amount of bleeding you have, you should then get iron testing. The only way to know whether your iron is low is to test your iron level (ferritin). Most people do not have their iron tested because they do not realize that the iron level and the hemoglobin level are different.
If your iron is found to be low, you may need an iron infusion. Oral iron supplements are unlikely to help because your body has limited capacity to absorb iron. When your doctor tells you to try oral iron, they may not realize how limited it is and how unlikely it is to help you.
Iron infusions have become easier and are now widely accepted as a treatment for people who have low iron. The benefits include raising your iron level, raising your hemoglobin level, and avoiding the need for blood transfusions. Iron infusions are now provided safely and easily in outpatient infusion centers. You do not need to see a cancer specialist for an iron infusion. Our mission at Heme On Call is to identity and treat everyone who needs iron. We aim to improve the health and well-being of those who have heavy menstrual bleeding. We can prescribe TXA for you, and we help you determine whether you need iron.
Heme On Call is a telemedicine-based hematology practice specializing in iron deficiency anemia. Call for a hematology telemedicine appointment, 786-567-8310, or visit hemeoncall.com.
