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Sudden heavy menstrual bleeding? Don't endure, check this first!

"Sudden heavy menstrual bleeding." This is one of the most common complaints women have when visiting Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Unlike usual, the fact that sanitary pads get wet quickly, the need to change them even at night, and the appearance of blood clots are more than just a major inconvenience in daily life; they can be a sign of a health problem. Many women dismiss these changes as simply 'due to aging' or 'because of stress,' but you should not ignore important warnings sent by your body.

💡 [Key Answer] Sudden heavy menstrual bleeding? The 3 most common causes: ① Hormonal imbalance (Anovulatory bleeding, etc.) / ② Uterine underlying diseases (Uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, etc.) / ③ Stagnant blood (Eo-hyeol) and Qi-blood circulation problems Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic treats the root cause of heavy menstrual bleeding through constitutional improvement.

A sudden increase in menstrual volume is medically called 'menorrhagia' or 'hypermenorrhea.' This is a problem that can cause anemia and significantly lower the quality of life beyond mere inconvenience. The causes are very diverse and can be broadly classified into three categories.

First, hormonal imbalance. In particular, anovulatory bleeding due to problems with ovarian function becomes a major cause of increased bleeding because estrogen is excessive and progesterone is deficient, leading to excessive proliferation of the endometrium. These subtle changes in hormonal balance can be affected by various lifestyle factors such as external stress, eating habits, and sleep patterns.

Second, uterine underlying diseases. This is when an abnormality occurs in the uterus itself, increasing menstrual volume. Representative examples include uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and endometrial hyperplasia. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that form on the uterine wall, and depending on their size or location, they can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. Adenomyosis is a condition where endometrial tissue grows into the uterine muscle layer, making the uterine wall thick and large, often accompanied by excessive bleeding and extreme menstrual pain. These diseases have relatively clear diagnoses, and Western medical approaches are active, but Korean medicine aims to improve the fundamental uterine environment without surgery.

Third, from the perspective of Korean medicine, stagnant blood (Eo-hyeol) and Qi-blood circulation problems. Stagnant blood means that blood circulation is not smooth, so it clumps or stagnates in one place. If stagnant blood accumulates in the uterus, it can interfere with the discharge of menstrual blood and increase the amount of bleeding, which leads to a general decline in the function of the uterus and ovaries. In addition, imbalances in the autonomic nervous system due to stress and overwork can also affect blood circulation and worsen heavy menstrual bleeding.

Many people suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding rely on painkillers or hormonal drugs, but often get frustrated because they cannot find a fundamental solution. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic in Songdo helps to resolve the cause of heavy menstrual bleeding and restore a healthy menstrual cycle through constitutional improvement that regains the balance of the whole body.

In fact, herbal medicine treatment is reporting significant effects in improving menorrhagia symptoms. A meta-analysis study published in the journal "Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice" in 2023 analyzed the effects of herbal medicine and herbal preparations on 1,715 women with menorrhagia in 19 clinical trials. The study confirmed that herbal products were effective in significantly reducing bleeding severity and menstrual duration in women with menorrhagia (P < 0.001). In particular, during 1-3 months of treatment, both bleeding severity (Standardized Mean Difference, SMD = -2.01 ~ -2.70) and menstrual days (SMD = -0.86 ~ -1.09) showed a statistically significant decrease. The researchers concluded that these results suggest the potential of herbal medicine treatment in the management of menorrhagia.

Also, a retrospective cohort study published in the "International Journal of Women's Health" in 2024 announced that complementary herbal medicine treatment was associated with a decrease in surgery rates in patients with dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB). In this study, the surgery rate significantly decreased in the group receiving herbal medicine treatment (adjusted hazard ratio HR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.22-0.33), which shows that herbal medicine treatment can contribute to slowing the progression of excessive bleeding due to uterine diseases or reducing surgical intervention.

Based on these data, Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic in Songdo focuses on restoring the function of the uterus and ovaries so that the body can control the amount of menstruation by itself, improving blood circulation, and regulating hormonal balance, rather than simply stopping the bleeding.

Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic finds the fundamental cause of female diseases, including heavy menstrual bleeding, in the constitution. We aim for treatment that changes the body's constitution so that symptoms do not recur, rather than just temporarily suppressing them. This is the so-called "creating a body that does not turn back on, rather than just turning off the symptoms."

Constitutional improvement treatment is carried out through the following approaches.

1. Strengthening Uterus and Ovarian Function: We strengthen the function of the uterus and ovaries, which are key organs that regulate the menstrual cycle, through herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment. By removing stagnant blood and promoting Qi-blood circulation, we create a healthy environment in the uterus and normalize the hormone secretion function of the ovaries to control excessive bleeding.
2. Regulating Hormonal Balance: We correct hormonal imbalance, which is one of the main causes of heavy menstrual bleeding. We prescribe herbal medicine that restores the body's natural hormone regulation ability to balance estrogen and progesterone. This helps prevent excessive proliferation of the endometrium and induce a normal menstrual cycle.
3. Stabilizing Immunity and Autonomic Nervous System: Stress and overwork can cause an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, which can adversely affect uterine health. By prescribing herbal medicine tailored to each individual's constitution, we increase overall immunity and stabilize the autonomic nervous system to enhance the body's recovery resilience. This is effective not only in regulating menstrual volume but also in improving symptoms such as fatigue, anemia, headaches, and dizziness that are likely to appear along with menorrhagia. This approach is the fundamental treatment method that Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic pursues among Korean medicine clinics in Incheon-Guwol.

Check how many of the following items apply to you.

• 1. Menstrual blood soaks the sanitary pad in just one or two hours and needs to be replaced.
• 2. It is frequent that you have to wake up at night to change sanitary pads.
• 3. Blood clots larger than a 500-won coin are frequently seen.
• 4. Menstrual period lasts for more than 7 days.
• 5. You feel anemia symptoms such as dizziness, extreme fatigue, and shortness of breath more than usual.
• 6. Irregular bleeding often occurs even when it is not the menstrual period (irregular bleeding, uterine bleeding).
• 7. The lower abdomen feels heavier or harder than usual.

[Diagnosis Criteria and Recommendation]

• If 3 or more apply: Suspected menorrhagia and uterine health abnormalities. It is necessary to consider Korean medicine diagnosis and treatment by visiting a heavy menstruation clinic in Songdo.
• If 5 or more apply: Immediate visit to a medical institution and a detailed examination are required. Start accurate cause diagnosis and customized treatment at Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic.

Q. Is it common for menstrual volume to increase suddenly? A. Yes, heavy menstrual bleeding is a common symptom that more women experience than expected. However, many people misunderstand this as a normal range and leave it as it is, so if the discomfort is large or interferes with daily life, it is important to receive accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Q. What happens if heavy menstrual bleeding is not treated? A. If heavy menstrual bleeding is neglected for a long time, extreme fatigue, lethargy, dizziness, and decreased immunity may occur due to chronic anemia. In severe cases, uterine underlying diseases may worsen or lead to infertility, so caution is required.

Q. How does Korean medicine treatment help reduce the amount of menstruation? A. Korean medicine treatment improves hormonal imbalance, stagnant blood in the uterus, and Qi-blood circulation problems, which are the root causes of heavy menstrual bleeding, and normalizes the function of the uterus and ovaries. Through this, it restores the body's ability to control the amount of menstruation on its own, reducing unnecessary bleeding and helping to regain a healthy menstrual cycle.

Q. Is diet management important when the amount of menstruation is large? A. Yes, diet management is very important. It is good to consume food that warms the body and helps blood circulation, and to avoid cold food or instant food. You should also pay attention to preventing anemia by consuming enough fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, which helps iron absorption.

Heavy menstrual bleeding is not a problem that can be solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach it in the right direction, your body will react faster than you think. Bring your symptoms as they are. Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Clinic website first!

This article is health information compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic Songdo Branch Korean Medicine Doctor Oh Hyunmin (Uterine Fibroids Column) based on Women/Pregnancy treatment standards.