Hormone Therapy

Hormonal drugs, which contain estrogen and/or progestin, can make the endometrial lining of the uterus thinner and may reduce blood flow. They are often prescribed to lighten menstrual bleeding. However, they often fail to adequately reduce bleeding and women often seek additional treatment such as endometrial ablation or hysterectomy. Unlike a one-time endometrial ablation, hormones must be used daily.. Hormones are used to manage heavy bleeding, rather than resolve it. This means that when you stop taking them every day, heavy periods are likely to return. Almost one-third of women stop taking hormones due to side effects or lack of efficacy.

Women want a quick effective solution for heavy bleeding.

Listen to one physician discuss what his patients want.

Birth Control Pills

Approximately 50% of women taking birth control pills continue to suffer from heavy bleeding1. Birth control pills must be taken daily for as long as the bleeding problem exists. This means daily compliance as well as an ongoing expense. Also, it often takes 3-4 cycles before the pills start affecting blood flow. While taking birth control pills, you may experience side effects including headaches, nausea, breast tenderness or swelling, loss of libido or moodiness. Oral contraceptives are not recommended for women with a history of cardiovascular disease, blood clots, a family history of breast cancer, or women over the age of 35.

Progestogens (Progestins and Natural Progesterone)

Progestins are made to replace progesterone, a hormone that a woman’s body naturally produces. This is an option for women who are producing too much estrogen and not enough progesterone. Progestins can be taken in the form of a pill or by insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD). While progestin-only birth control pills are more successful at managing bleeding when compared to estrogen/progestine birth control pills, their strong side effects limit long-term use. Typical side effects include breakthrough bleeding, breast pain, acne, weight gain and bloating.

Because of these problems of poor bleeding control, side effects, and the need for daily compliance, medical therapy tends not to be a good long-term treatment option for most patients. In one study, by 5 years, more than 75% of women taking drug treatments had gone on to have a hysterectomy.2

Not every woman is able and willing to take hormone therapy for heavy menstrual bleeding.

Hear a physician discuss her opinions on treatment with hormone therapy.