Heavy periods may indicate an underlying condition affecting fertility. Some women experience a few days of light flow, while others regularly experience heavy periods and painful cramps.

Women who experience very heavy, painful periods may be showing signs of endometriosis, a condition where tissues usually found in the womb are present elsewhere in the body. Endometriosis is a risk factor for infertility.

What are the Causes of heavy menstrual bleeding

Menorrhagia is the medical term for abnormally heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. While heavy menstrual bleeding is a common problem, most people may not lose enough blood to be classified as menorrhagia.

When you have menorrhagia, you can’t do your normal things during your cycle because you’re losing too much blood and cramping. Consult the doctor if you fear your cycle because of heavy menstrual bleeding. Menorrhagia can be treated in a variety of ways.

The cause of heavy menstrual bleeding is unclear in some circumstances, but menorrhagia may be caused by a variety of conditions.

Among the most common reasons are:

            1. Hormone imbalance: Hormone imbalances can be caused by a variety of factors, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity, insulin resistance, and thyroid issues. Dysfunction of the ovaries: Your body would not contain the hormone progesterone if the ovaries do not release an egg (ovulate) during a menstrual period (anovulation). This causes a hormonal deficiency, which can lead to menorrhagia.

           2. Uterine fibroids: These noncancerous (benign) tumors of the uterus appear during your childbearing years. Uterine fibroids may cause heavier than normal or prolonged menstrual bleeding.

          3. Pregnancy complications: A single, heavy, late period may be due to a miscarriage. Another cause of heavy bleeding during pregnancy includes an unusual location of the placenta, such as a low-lying placenta or placenta Previa.

           4.Inherited bleeding disorders: Some bleeding disorders — such as von Willebrand’s disease, a condition in which an important blood-clotting factor is deficient or impaired — can cause abnormal menstrual bleeding.

Vitamins for heavy menstrual bleeding

A daily multivitamin containing folic acid, vitamin-C, vitamin-B12, and other vitamins that help build red blood cells is advised by specialists as a medication to ease the process of heavy bleeding during menstruation. 

How to stop heavy menstrual bleeding

Lifestyle changes

               1. Use a menstrual cup

               2. Try a heating pad

               3. Get plenty of rest

               4. Exercise

Diet supplements

Staying hydrated and ensuring that there are enough of the following nutrients in the diet may help manage symptoms of a heavy period, especially when a person is also using other remedies and treatments.

               1) Iron: Iron is used by the body to make fresh blood cells.

Taking an iron supplement may aid in the production of sufficient red blood cells in the body. Which will help alleviate anemia, a disease in which red blood cells are in short supply.

           2)   Vitamin C: The body does not absorb iron easily, but vitamin C can help. Taking vitamin C supplements or eating foods rich in vitamin C — such as citrus fruits — along with an iron supplement can help prevent an iron deficiency.

Medications

Many women with excessive menstrual bleeding are prescribed drugs by their doctors. 

              1. Ibuprofen (Advil) can assist with nausea, cramping, and high blood flow by reducing pain and cramping sensations while also slowing the bleeding.

              2. An intrauterine device (IUD) is a medication-releasing device that is inserted into the uterus to help reduce bleeding and discourage pregnancy.

              3. Anti-fibrinolytic drugs, such as tranexamic acid, can also help to avoid bleeding by preventing blood clots from forming.

Natural remedy to stop menstrual bleeding

You can ease your symptoms and get your rhythm back on track by doing a few activities at home.

1) Stay hydrated: If you bleed profusely for many days, your blood flow can become dangerously low. Adding 4 to 6 cups of water to your daily water intake will help you maintain your blood volume. To even out the excess fluid you’re drinking, drink an electrolyte solution like Gatorade or eat more salt.

2) Consume foods high in vitamin C: This vitamin aids in the absorption of iron, which can help reduce anemia. Citrus fruits including oranges and grapefruits contain it.

Vitamin C is also in:

                 1. red and green peppers

                 2. kiwis

                 3. strawberries

                 4. Brussels sprouts

                 5. Broccoli

                 6. tomato juice

3) Add more iron-rich foods to your diet: When you bleed, you lose iron. Your body needs iron to produce hemoglobin, a molecule that helps red blood cells carry oxygen. Very heavy periods can deplete your body of iron and lead to iron deficiency anemia.

Signs of anemia include:

                1. fatigue

                2. weakness

                3. dizziness

                4. pale skin

To get more of this nutrient, eat foods high in iron like:

                1. lean beef

                2. oysters

                3. chicken and turkey

                4. beans

                5. tofu

                6. spinach

4) Cook in a cast-iron pot: Another way to increase your iron intake is by cooking in a cast-iron skillet. Foods with a lot of moisture — like spaghetti sauce — absorb the most iron. Stirring the pot often will pull even more iron into your food. Make sure not to overdo it. Cooking everything in an iron pot could lead to dangerously high levels in children.

Heavy flow during periods after delivery

When your cycle returns after delivery, it will most likely be in full swing, since it is the shedding of not just the uterine lining, but also any clots or blood from the birth process. 

Although this can be an unpleasant occurrence, as they get closer to the birth of their child, many women experience fewer painful and intense cycles.

If you have excessive bleeding, such as filling a pad or period panties in less than an hour or two, multiple clots, or a single clot or greater, seek emergency medical attention right away.

One of the most essential nutrients for pregnancy is folic acid. The benefits of folic acid are vast, and loads of research have shown that when this nutrient is started in the months preceding pregnancy, it has important health benefits for expecting women and their babies. Folic acid aids the proper closure of the embryonic neural tube, which is the precursor to your baby’s brain and spinal cord, during the first few weeks of pregnancy. It also aids in the development of your baby’s heart and circulatory system, as well as lowering the risk of some birth defects. Here, at Sudha Hospitals, we provide you with highly qualified Gynecologists who will guide you throughout your journey of becoming a mother.

What happens if you don’t take folic acid during pregnancy?

Your baby is more likely to have neural tube defects if you don’t get enough folic acid before and after birth. Neural tube defects are life-threatening birth defects that affect the spine, spinal cord, or brain. These include:

             1. Spina bifida: This disorder occurs when the spinal column of an unborn baby does not completely close during growth in the womb, exposing the spinal cord. As a result, the muscles controlling the legs and other organs are paralyzed. Spina bifida affects children for the rest of their lives. They can also need a number of surgeries.

             2. Anencephaly: This means that most or all of the brain and skull does not develop in the womb. Almost all babies with this condition die before or soon after birth.

Folic acid tablets for pregnancy

Folic acid is a synthetic version of the B vitamin folate. Folate aids in the formation of red blood cells and the development of your baby’s neural tube into their brain and spinal cord.

Every day, 400 micrograms of folate are recommended for all women of childbearing age. Check to see if your multivitamin contains the recommended amount of vitamins if you take it every day. You can take folic acid tablets instead of a multivitamin if you don’t want to take one.

When to stop taking folic acid in pregnancy

Your baby’s spine will have grown by the time you reach 12 weeks pregnant, so you can avoid taking folic acid. You can, however, continue to take supplements after 12 weeks if you wish, and it will not affect your infant. Folic acid, as well as other important vitamins for a healthy pregnancy, such as vitamin D, can be found in pregnancy vitamins and supplements that are designed to be taken all the way through pregnancy.

Folic acid dose for pregnancy women

The prescribed dietary allowance (RDA) requires the folate you get from both food you consume and any supplements you take.

0-6 months: 65 micrograms/day adequate intake (AI)

7-12 months: 80 micrograms/day adequate intake (AI)

1-3 years: 150 micrograms/day adequate intake (AI)

4-8 years: 200 micrograms/day adequate intake (AI)

9-13 years: 300 micrograms/day adequate intake (AI)

14 years and above: 400 micrograms/day adequate intake (AI)

Pregnant women: 600 micrograms/day adequate intake (AI)

Breastfeeding women: 500 micrograms/day adequate intake (AI)

Gynecologists recommend that all pregnant women take at least 600 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily. This level of folic acid is found in most prenatal vitamins.

It is possible that taking folic acid after you find out you’re pregnant isn’t enough. Many women don’t know they’re pregnant until they’ve been pregnant for 6 weeks or longer. Neural tube defects usually appear in the first month of pregnancy, before you even know you’re expecting.

The CDC recommends that women who plan to become pregnant or who are of childbearing age take 400 mcg of folic acid daily to ensure they have enough folic acid in their bodies to prevent neural tube defects.

If you’ve already given birth to a child with a neural tube defect, you might need higher doses of folic acid in the months leading up to your next pregnancy and during the first few months of pregnancy. Your doctor will help you determine the proper dosage.

Folic acid supplementation in early second trimester

The neural tube of the baby should have closed by 12 weeks, so you won’t need to take folic acid. But it isn’t harmful to take it all the way through your pregnancy. So, you can carry on if you are taking pregnancy multivitamin pills that contain it.

Folic acid supplementation after the early period recommended to prevent NTD can have a positive impact on the child’s cognitive growth. There is a need for more randomised trials in pregnancy and follow-up in childhood.

How long after taking folic acid will I get pregnant?

Ideally, you should take folic acid supplements for two to three months before you conceive and until you are 12 weeks pregnant. This helps it to build up in your body to the point that it protects your future baby from neural tube defects like spina bifida.

Knowing when to take folic acid and how much to take will help you launch your fertility journey on the right foot.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention recommends that women take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day for one month before attempting to conceive.

You may also increase your intake of folate, which is the natural source of folic acid, by eating more foods that contain it. Even a balanced diet, however, does not provide enough folic acid for pregnancy, so taking folic acid supplements is necessary.

Conclusion

Take your folic acid-rich daily prenatal vitamin to keep up the good work on the nutrition front. This supplement, combined with a balanced diet, is an ideal way to start off your new baby’s life.

If you’re hoping to start or increase your family and have been trying all other fertility options, IVF can be the best option to have a biological baby.

It is a medical procedure in which an egg is fertilized with sperm, outside the mother’s womb, giving you an embryo — a baby seedling! This happens outside your body. The fertilized embryo is either frozen or the little seedling can be implanted in your womb right away. Hopefully resulting in pregnancy.

This procedure can be used to treat infertility in various cases such as damaged or blocked fallopian tubes, decreased sperm count or motility, ovulation disorders, premature ovarian failure, removed fallopian tubes, uterine fibroids, and genetic disorders.

Though the process of egg fertilization is artificial the overall pregnancy is as real as it can be. A mother would feel the same emotions, same discomfort, and same trouble in both cases. The feeling of getting the news of positive pregnancy will be the same and the feeling of hearing the first cry of your child will be the same. Another fact about IVF is that it’s common to opt for it.

Difference between IVF and IUI, Surrogacy

In the IVF treatment the eggs from the intended mother and the semen from the intended father are fertilized and implanted in the body of the intended mother only, whereas, in surrogacy, the embryo is planted in the womb of another woman chosen by the parents. The surrogate mother will keep the baby in the womb for the rest of the pregnancy procedure. Surrogacy is preferred mostly when the female partner has removed the uterus due to medical reasons or due to either uterine defect or inherent condition.

Preparing oneself for IVF

The anticipation to be a mother provides a woman the strength to bear and overcome any pain. But the preparation is needed at both emotional and physical levels to attain what’s required to be a mother. Therefore preparing oneself for the beautiful journey ahead is necessary. These preparations include a tremendous change in inhabits. You have to attain some and give up some other as well.

The do’s while preparing your body for the IVF are:

Quit nicotine and caffeine.

Quit smoking and drinking and start detoxing yourself before you conceive your baby. No one wants to stay in a dirty home. Limit your caffeine intake as it can increase the heart rate, blood pressure, and urine output and can adversely affect your metabolism. And all of these are unhealthy during or before pregnancy. Taking inspiration from the mother earth sow yourself for the unhealthy habits and prepare a hostile environment for your baby.

Balance your diet.

A little later from now, your whole life is going to revolve around your little one. Prepare yourself for new happenings and try to incorporate your efforts into the diet as well. The first step will be to introduce some fertility-enhancing foods into your diet. Be conscious about your weight as BMI affects your chances of IVF being successful. Try to balance your BMI between 20 to 30.  Also, the 30 days leading up to your IVF cycle are very important for ensuring your body is healthy, strong, and fully prepared for this fairly intense medical process.

Get a health check-up

Get yourself tested for diabetes, blood pressure, infectious diseases, and various other health measures that can affect your chances of conceiving the baby and the health of the baby. Both of the parents have to go through some fertility health check-ups as well to get to know the reason behind troubles in infertility. Some of these tests include Ovarian reserve testing, Semen analysis, Infectious disease screening, Practice (mock) embryo transfer, Vaginal ultrasound, Blood tests, and the Uterine exam.

Vitamins

The results of IVF are highly dependent on Egg quality.  Therefore it is important to add some fertility-enhancing vitamins to the diet. Folic acid supplements are known to reduce the risks of birth defects. It is necessary to consult your doctor before selecting the vitamins.

Regular sleep

Maintain your nocturnal cycle is really crucial if you are planning for an IVF treatment. Getting the right amount of sleep and fertility are closely connected. It helps you to balance your energy levels, moods and reduces anxiety and stress that makes you psychologically strong.

Be emotionally prepared

You may feel an amalgamation of various and several emotions when you prepare yourself for IVF. Anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty can be heightened from the start to the end. The IVF cycle can be a lot to handle as it quite time-consuming, physically demanding, a little expensive, and at the same time uncertain. The emotions can be altered and heightened due to various injections that can fluctuate your hormone levels.   

Is IVF painful process?

The experience of IVF varies from woman to woman. But most of the women describe the escapade as slightly discomfort rather than painful. The first discomfort can be felt during ovarian stimulation when injections of follicle stimulation hormones are injected to push your ovaries to generate multiple eggs in a single cycle. Some women may feel the fluctuation in hormones caused by the injections but these side effects are not usually severe or painful. These effects include breast tenderness, bloating, mood swings, insomnia, and headaches. After the eggs have been matured enough for the retrieval, a shot of HGC will be given 36 hours before the retrieval to ensure that the eggs are completely matured. After ensuring that multiple eggs are matured and released the retrieval step takes place. The egg retrieval step can cause a little more discomfort but you will be sedated or provided medicines to overcome that. The retrieved egg after that is introduced to the sperm indirectly or directly in the case of decreased sperm mobility. The embryo, the seed, gets fertilized outside the body and once the fertilization is ensured, the transfer of the embryo in the mother’s womb takes place. The embryo transfer as well won’t be that painful as it is a simple procedure of planting the embryo through the catheter. This feeling can be found similar to the feeling of speculum used during a pap test.