Definition
noun
The extremely heavy or long periods of menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age
Supplement
Menstruation is the recurring discharge of blood, cervical mucus, vaginal secretions, and endometrial tissue of a nonpregnant females of humans and other animals (e.g. certain primates, shrews, and bats.1 There are instances though when menstrual period is different from the norm. For instance, the extremely heavy or prolonged periods of menstrual flow is referred to as hypermenorrhoea. Normally, bleeding lasts to an average of five days and the total blood flow is between 25 and 80 mL (i.e. soaking a pad or tampon every two hours or less).2 In hypermenorrhoea, bleeding is extremely heavy, e.g. soaking a pad or tampon every hour, or is prolonged, i.e. for longer than seven days.
Variant(s):
- hypermenorrhea (US spelling)
See also:
Reference(s):
1 Lopez, K. H. (2013). Human Reproductive Biology. Academic Press. p. 53.
2 Munro, M. G., Critchley, H. O. D., Broder, M. S., and Fraser, I. S. (2011-04-01). “FIGO classification system (PALM-COEIN) for causes of abnormal uterine bleeding in nongravid women of reproductive age”. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics: The Official Organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 113 (1): 3–13.
