For many women, monthly periods bring much more than minor inconveniences. They can feel like a debilitating ordeal, marked by pain so severe that it causes them to collapse.
Heavy bleeding sometimes puts their lives at risk. It is often a sad and difficult journey to find answers or get relief from the problem. Take Jaime Sanchez as an example.
Her battle with fibroids began when she was just a teenager. That led to heavy, painful periods that persisted even after surgery. Hormonal treatments did not provide complete relief either.
She mentions that being constantly afraid of bleeding through clothing was common. It was not just a feeling of discomfort for her. Anxiety had a major impact on her life.
Her experience highlights the negative consequences of untreated issues or conditions like fibroids that are not managed well. These are the most common non-cancerous tumors in women.
They are a leading cause of hysterectomy in America. Many women develop them during childbearing years. Up to 80% of women have them during their reproductive years.
Around half of them struggle with symptoms that cause problems. Jaime’s condition suddenly worsened a year ago. Her symptoms were so severe.
They sent her to the Emergency Department then. Why? Critically low hemoglobin levels were the cause. This main protein carries oxygen in red blood cells.
A normal range is near 12 to 15. Hers dropped as low as 6, a very dangerous number. She was at risk of having a heart attack quickly.
An urgent blood transfusion was necessary. Iron treatment was also required for her health. This vital event shows the real danger.
Heavy period bleeding is directly connected to iron deficiency. This condition can also lead to low iron anemia. Dr. Layla Van Doren works on blood problems at Yale Medicine.
She says periods are the main reason women lose a lot of iron. Men do not have this loss. Iron is a very important building block for body parts.
It helps with growth and also makes red blood cells. Strong bone marrow needs it, as do muscles. Organs and the immune system get help from iron.
When the amount of iron falls, the body makes less hemoglobin. That condition can bring on anemia quite fast. Before anemia starts, low iron levels can make one feel terrible.
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Feeling tired, having a dizzy head, or experiencing foggy thinking happens often. These simple signs are easily dismissed. People often blame stress or poor sleep for them.
The prevalence of iron deficiency in women is high. It is overlooked by many people. Dr. Van Doren mentions that no regular checks are conducted in the U.S.
This means it is often missed by doctors unless someone asks for a test. Studies estimate that up to one-third of women in the U.S. lack enough iron.
Young females aged 12 to 21 see this figure near 40 percent. That was found in a 2023 JAMA study. Jaime had received treatments before her hospital visit.
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She had surgery to remove fibroids but not the uterus. Hormonal birth control was also used. That helps make periods lighter for some women.
It does not treat the fibroids themselves. However, her symptoms came back strongly. She still lost a lot of blood often.
Jaime and her doctor knew that the symptoms needed to be controlled. Her doctor’s first suggestion was a hysterectomy operation. This fully removes the uterus.
It is a common treatment for fibroids, although it is sometimes a major procedure. She sought a second opinion from a doctor. Dr. Amanda Ulrich is an OB/GYN at UConn Health.
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She confirmed that the operation was an option. But UConn offered a robotic approach to performing it. It involves less cutting compared to the normal type of surgery.
Jaime faced serious risks during this time. Years of having fibroids had caused her uterus to grow large. It was full of fibroids.
She had also had four C-sections before. Her uterus was adhered to her abdominal wall inside. It was also fused to her bladder.
This increased the risk of cutting the bowel during surgery. She knew that something needed to be done soon. The idea of major surgery was very scary.
She was so nervous that her first planned March appointment got pushed back. Her appointment in May still felt terrifying. She believed no other options existed for her.
But the story changed, giving her a glimmer of hope. Dr. Ulrich had learned a new way and had just completed a course. She showed Jaime information about the Sonata treatment.
Dr. Ulrich told about the moment Jaime came in. She had just finished her class on Sonata then. Jaime sat down, looking afraid for her appointment.
She said she was sure nothing else could be done but felt really nervous about this big operation. That is when the brochure for Sonata was shown to her.
Dr. Ulrich said Jaime would be a great fit. She would be the doctor’s first patient with it. Jaime’s reaction showed how desperate many women get.
They navigate the few treatment options available to them. She could not believe it was real. Another choice existed besides surgery.
She trusted Dr. Ulrich as a great doctor. No doubts came to her about being the first patient. She felt it was like help from above.
The delay in her operation timing felt like a gift. Dr. Ulrich knowing about Sonata felt like it was heaven-sent. Jaime’s story eventually found a new answer.
The path to finding the problem or a good treatment is hard. Many women face this for female body issues. It is often met with doctors not taking them seriously.
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