Treatment for Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding in Ocala, FL

Abnormal vaginal bleeding (also known as Menorrhagia) is one of the most common causes for women to schedule an appointment with their gynecologist. Not only is vaginal bleeding inconvenient under the most normal circumstances, but introducing abnormality into the equation causes additional and unforeseen issues which can make treatment a priority for most women. Additionally, and more importantly, an abnormal menstrual cycle can be indicative of more serious issues, so making an appointment with Dr. Riley to diagnose, and treat any gynecologic issues is crucial. 

Dr. Riley and her team have three general methods they employ to treat abnormal vaginal bleeding:

  1. Medications including NSAIDs, contraceptives, or progesterone
  2. Ablation, a technique which involves destroying the uterine lining
  3. Hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus. Used as a last resort in most cases

Medications for Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding

There are several forms of medication commonly diagnosed to treat abnormal vaginal bleeding. These medications include:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). An NSAID is a simple over-the-counter pain reliever such as naproxen sodium (Aleve) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others). NSAIDs help to reduce the overall amount of menstrual blood loss, and also have the additional benefit of relieving painful menstrual cramps as well.
  • Oral contraceptives. In addition to their intended purpose of providing birth control, oral contraceptives help regulate menstrual cycles and can reduce episodes of prolonged or excessive menstrual bleeding.
  • Tranexamic acid. Tranexamic acid (Lysteda) helps to reduce menstrual blood loss but is only effective when taken at the time of the bleeding.
  • Oral progesterone. The hormone progesterone can help correct hormone imbalance, thereby reducing vaginal bleeding.
  • Hormonal IUD (Liletta). This intrauterine device (IUD) releases a type of progestin called levonorgestrel, which thins uterine lining and decreases cramping and menstrual blood flow.

Hysterectomy Procedure for Abnormal Menstrual Bleeding

In situations where medication or endometrial ablation are not sufficient in treating abnormal vaginal bleeding, Dr. Riley may recommend a hysterectomy, which is the surgical removal of the uterus. Dr. Riley utilizes the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System for these procedures, a state-of-the-art procedure utilizing minimally invasive incisions. Learn more about hysterectomies performed by Dr. Riley with the da Vinci Surgical system.