Heavy Period Treatment Melbourne
Dr Hugo Fernandes
Heavy, painful periods don’t need to rule your life.

Does Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Affect You?
Many women find that their periods significantly impact their daily lives. This may mean you restrict yourself to wearing certain colours or types of clothing during your period, feel that you’re more tired than usual, or even find leaving the house too difficult to deal with.
Whether you’ve been having heavy periods since your first one or they’ve become heavier over time, the symptoms may be physically uncomfortable or painful, and even cause you to stop doing the things you love. If so, you’re not alone, and Dr Hugo and his team offer treatments that may be able to reduce bleeding and help you regain your quality of life.
What are Heavy Periods?
When your periods include significant blood loss, last for longer than seven days, or even have you feeling fatigued or short of breath, this is what’s known as heavy menstrual bleeding. Heavy menstrual bleeding, or excessive menstrual bleeding, is one form of what’s called dysfunctional uterine bleeding or abnormal uterine bleeding. Heavy periods mean that your menstrual flow is considered excessive and may be impacting your daily life.
Heavy bleeding is a fairly common condition that affects between 27% and 54% of people who have a menstrual cycle. However, being common doesn’t necessarily mean it’s something you have to accept. With many years of experience behind him, Dr Hugo is well-versed in investigating and addressing abnormal uterine bleeding and menstrual cycle issues with great care.


Heavy Period Symptoms
Symptoms of heavy periods include:
- Needing to change pads or tampons every hour throughout the day
- Needing to empty your menstrual cup every hour throughout the day
- Needing to use more than one period product at the same time
- Passing large blood clots (the size of a 10c coin or bigger)
- Period pain
- Pelvic pain
- Periods lasting longer than seven days
- Bleeding through your clothes or bedding
- Feeling fatigued
- Weakness
Shortness of breath
Treatment Options for Heavy Periods
If you suspect you have heavy menstrual bleeding, it’s important to consult with a doctor to address the issue. They will likely order blood tests to check your hormone levels, iron levels, and full blood count, and may also perform a cervical screening test, pelvic examination, or refer you for a pelvic ultrasound.
Your possible treatment options will vary depending on the underlying cause, your lifestyle, your preferences, and any plans you may have for having or expanding your family. Dr Hugo recognises the importance of treating all types of abnormal uterine bleeding with compassion and understanding, and always takes the time to understand your specific concerns and goals.
Treatment options include:
- Taking the oral contraceptive pill to balance hormone levels
- Having an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted
- Taking medications such as tranexamic acid and mefenamic acid
- Medications such as progesterone tablets or iron supplements in the case of iron deficiency
- Surgical treatment such as endometrial ablation, which aims to destroy the lining of the uterus in order to reduce or stop periods
- A surgical procedure where a surgeon removes your uterus and cervix, known as a hysterectomy
Your Heavy Period Questions Answered
What causes heavy menstrual bleeding?
There are many possible causes of heavy periods, such as:
- Hormonal imbalance
- Ovarian dysfunction
- Uterine fibroids (benign growths)
- Uterine polyps
- Adenomyosis
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Cancer
- Inherited blood disorders or another bleeding disorder
- Certain medications
- Thyroid problems
- Liver or kidney disease
- High-stress levels
- Significant weight changes
- Extreme physical activity
- Use of oral contraceptives or IUDs
Does having heavy periods impact your fertility?
Having heavy periods may play a role in your fertility, and this largely depends on what the underlying cause is. If you have excessive menstrual bleeding due to thyroid problems or a condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, for example, you may have disrupted ovulation which may make it harder to conceive. If you have uterine fibroids or polyps, these may stop an egg from fertilising or block a fallopian tube, also making conceiving difficult. Other conditions that may complicate fertility issues include endometriosis, adenomyosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
If you have heavy periods and are concerned about your fertility, it’s important to consult a doctor with experience in these areas, such as Dr Hugo. He aims to work with people to determine the cause of heavy bleeding and to develop treatment plans centred around individual’s specific goals. Early diagnosis is important, as it may make a difference in improving your chances of conceiving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Are there any treatment options that may impact fertility?
Not every treatment option will be suitable for every person, particularly if you aim to conceive. For example, an endometrial ablation permanently destroys the uterine lining, which is essential for egg fertilisation. While its primary purpose is to address heavy periods and it wasn’t designed as a contraceptive option, this treatment tends to make pregnancy unlikely. If you’re concerned about your fertility while addressing your heavy menstrual bleeding, Dr Hugo will discuss your options with you to ensure your treatment aligns with your goals.
What may happen if I don't address my abnormal uterine bleeding?
Heavy menstrual bleeding is an issue that affects many people who menstruate and often leads to people needing to take time off from school or work due to period pain. If your period affects you in this way, you may find that you’re falling behind, or missing out on things, including in your social life.
In some cases, heavy periods may lead to significant blood loss and cause iron deficiency anemia. This may lead to symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and shortness of breath. Iron deficiency anemia should always be addressed and typically requires medical interventions such as tablets or iron infusions to increase iron levels.
Heavy bleeding may be due to other underlying health issues, such as uterine fibroids, polyps, thyroid problems, endometriosis, or even cancer. If these are suspected, a pelvic ultrasound and further investigation are warranted to determine the cause of the abnormal bleeding. If these issues aren’t addressed, they may progress and lead to further health complications. Health conditions such as these may also impact your fertility and make it more difficult to conceive, so it’s essential to address any abnormal bleeding as soon as possible.
Why Dr Hugo?
Compassionate Care
Dr Hugo is interested in every part of your story of how and why you’re here to see him and provides personalised, friendly service.
Focus on Fertility
Dr Hugo understands any concerns you may have regarding fertility and is dedicated to providing a caring and supportive fertility experience.
Experience in Surgical Treatment
With many academic accolades to his name, Dr Hugo is highly experienced in many treatment options.
Contact Dr Hugo Today for Menorrhagia Treatment in Melbourne
If your heavy periods stop you from participating in your normal activities, it’s time to address and potentially reduce your bleeding with a treatment option that’s appropriate for you. Whether you’re interested in trying a different contraceptive pill or are considering a surgical procedure, Dr Hugo is ready to listen and understand where you’re coming from and where you aim to go. For compassionate and experienced care, book an appointment with Dr Hugo today.
