A 43-year-old woman experiences shortened menstrual cycle, prolonged menstruation, and increased menstrual flow. What could be the cause, and what should be done?

A 43-year-old woman experiencing shortened menstrual cycles, prolonged menstruation, and increased menstrual flow may be suffering from endocrine disorders, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometrial polyps, or other conditions, which require targeted treatment. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Endocrine Disorders

If a woman frequently stays up late, has irregular sleep patterns, or remains in a state of long-term anxiety, it can easily lead to endocrine imbalance, disrupting the normal menstrual cycle and resulting in the symptoms described above. In such cases, women are advised to ensure adequate rest and maintain a relaxed mindset, which may help alleviate these symptoms.

2. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

If proper hygiene practices are not maintained, women may become infected with pathogenic bacteria, leading to pelvic inflammatory disease. Under stimulation by inflammatory factors, blood circulation around the endometrium may be affected, disrupting normal endometrial shedding and causing the aforementioned symptoms. Treatment may include medications such as metronidazole tablets or tinidazole tablets, taken under medical supervision.

3. Endometrial Polyps

When the uterine area is exposed to inflammation or hormonal imbalances, endometrial tissue may overgrow, leading to endometrial polyps. These polyps can cause abnormal endometrial shedding, resulting in the observed symptoms. Polyps can be removed under the guidance of a physician.

In addition to the above, intrauterine contraceptive device irritation, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and adenomyosis may also cause similar symptoms. Therefore, patients whose symptoms persist should promptly seek medical evaluation at a hospital for accurate diagnosis.