menorrhagia /men′ərā″jē·ə/ [L, men + rhegnyai, to burst forth,] , abnormally heavy or long menstrual periods. Menorrhagia occurs occasionally during the reproductive years of most women’s lives. If the condition becomes chronic, anemia from recurrent excessive blood loss may result. Abnormal bleeding after menopause always warrants investigation to rule out malignancy. Menorrhagia is a relatively common complication of benign uterine fibromyomata; it may be so severe or intractable as to require hysterectomy. Also called hypermenorrhea. Compare menometrorrhagia, oligomenorrhea. See also dysmenorrhea. −menorrhagic, adj.
