Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Heavy periods.
These may include a physical examination or other medical tests.
Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing
your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information
you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- How long have you had heavy periods?
- Age of menarche (when first got menstrual period)?
- Duration of the menstrual period i.e. how many days do you bleed for?
- Is the menstrual interval regular?
Why: i.e. from Day 1 of menstruation to the onset of the next period.
- What is the interval of your menstrual cycle?
Why: i.e. from day 1 of menstruation to the onset of the next menstrual period. Average interval is 28 days.
- How many pads or tampons would you use per day whilst bleeding, and how saturated are they?
- Do you get clots, if yes how big would the clots be?
Why: e.g. size of little finger nail, thumb nail, 20 cent coin, 50 cent coin, apricot.
- Do you get "flooding" i.e. gushing of blood from the vagina when you stand up?
- Past medical history?
Why: some medical conditions can present with heavy menstrual bleeding e.g. hypothyroidism, iron deficiency anemia, lupus erythematosus, cirrhosis of the liver.
- Medications?
Why: e.g. heavy menstrual periods may be a complication of oral contraceptive pill.
- Method of contraception, if relevant?
Why: e.g. intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) may cause heavier and more painful periods.
- Cigarette smoking?
Why: cigarette smokers are five times more likely to have abnormal periods.
- Alcohol history?
Why: alcoholism may cause heavy menstrual flow.
- Family history?
Why: e.g. fibroids, endometriosis, thyroid disorders, bleeding disorders.
Questions your doctor may ask about related symptoms:
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse
your condition. These may include:
- Dysmenorrhea (pain with menstruation)?
Why: should consider pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy.
- Inter-menstrual bleeding i.e. spotting between your menstrual periods?
Why: usually indicate cervical "erosion", cervical polyp, presence of an IUCD and the oral contraceptive pill. Cervical cancer and intrauterine cancer must however be ruled out.
- Bleeding after intercourse i.e. post-coital bleeding?
Why: usually indicate cervical "erosion", cervical polyp, presence of an IUCD and the oral contraceptive pill. Cervical cancer and intrauterine cancer must however be ruled out.
- Dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse), if so is the discomfort superficial within the vagina or deep within the pelvis?
Why: if pain is deep may suggest endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Vaginal discharge, if so what is the nature of the discharge?
Why: may suggest pelvic inflammatory disease especially if abnormal offensive pus-like vaginal discharge.
- Symptoms of bleeding disorders
Why: e.g. extensive skin bruising, bleeding gums, bleeding nose, heavy menstrual periods, rectal bleeding and painful swollen joints.
- Symptoms of endometriosis?
Why: e.g. Menstrual pain that begins after years of pain free menstrual periods, pain with intercourse, non-specific pelvic pain, rectal pain especially before and during menstruation, heavy menstrual periods, reduced fertility or infertility.
- Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease?
Why: e.g. lower abdominal pain with or without a fever, pain with sexual intercourse, painful heavy or irregular periods, bleeding between the periods, abnormal perhaps offensive pus-like discharge from the vagina, painful or frequent urination.
- Symptoms of pregnancy?
Why: e.g. missed periods, nausea, breast tenderness, urinary frequency - may suggest ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
- Symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Why: e.g. husky voice, tiredness, weight gain, constipation, cold intolerance, loss of hair, puffiness of the eyes and face, heavy menstrual periods.
» Next page: Types of Heavy periods
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