| Treatment focuses on the cause of the disorder and any underlying conditions.
Treatment of amenorrhea includes correction of hormonal imbalances and induction of ovulation. Weight problems, excessive exercise, and anorexia nervosa need to be addressed because of the long-term threat they pose to the woman's health. Similarly, stress and depression may be treated with use of appropriate medications and psychological counseling or stress reduction techniques.
Treatment of dysmenorrhea begins with reassurance and education and can include pain relievers (analgesics) and drugs that block the action of prostaglandin (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs). Birth control pills (oral contraceptives, used for 3 to 6 months) and other non-contraceptive hormones can relieve symptoms by suppressing ovulation. Topical application of continuous, low-level heat may prove helpful to some individuals (Calis). Any identified underlying causes of secondary dysmenorrhea are also treated.
Treatment for menorrhagia depends on the age of the woman, the severity of the bleeding, whether or not she wants children in the future, and any underlying medical conditions. Hormone medications (estrogen, progesterone) can be used to reduce the bleeding. Progestin is the most frequently prescribed drug for women with menorrhagia (Shaw). If uterine fibroid tumors are the cause of menorrhagia, they can be surgically removed; some are treated with medications, uterine artery embolization, or ablation techniques. If an IUD is the cause, it can be removed. A dilation and curettage (D&C), in which the endometrial lining is scraped away, may be beneficial if the lining has thickened and is causing excessive bleeding. The endometrial lining can also be thinned (endometrial ablation) using laser or electrocautery. Recently developed ablation therapies include uterine balloon therapy, in which a balloon catheter is inserted into the endometrial cavity, inflated, and heated (Shaw). Other second generation techniques intended to provide simpler, quicker, safer, and more successful methods of reducing and treating the endometrial lining in cases of menorrhagia include cold treatments (cryoablation); hot saline solution irrigation; diode laser heat (hyperthermy); microwave ablation; and photodynamic (intrauterine light delivery) therapy (Lethaby). If menorrhagia is severe enough or does not respond to treatment, the uterus may be surgically removed (hysterectomy).
Metrorrhagia may be treated with hormones such as those in birth control pills (oral contraceptives). If bleeding becomes profuse (hemorrhage), bed rest, D&C, and/or hospitalization may be required. |
Source: Medical Disability Advisor