What causes nosebleeds during menstruation?

Women have their menstrual period for a few days every month, and these days are very difficult to endure because the body will experience many uncomfortable feelings, such as abdominal pain, and it is easy to feel tired, and especially the mood will become very bad. In addition, some women will have inexplicable nosebleeds during their menstrual period. This situation is not common. What may be the reason behind it?

What causes nosebleeds during menstruation?

Modern medicine believes that the nasal mucosa is similar in structure to the endometrium and is more sensitive to ovarian estrogen. Therefore, during menstruation, the nasal mucosa becomes overly congested, edematous, and even bleeds. Nosebleeds or vomiting blood during menstruation is called menstrual vomiting and bleeding, also known as retrograde menstruation in traditional Chinese medicine. This phenomenon often occurs 1 or 2 days before menstruation or after menstrual bleeding, while some people experience it after menstruation. However, this nosebleed and vomiting blood phenomenon is not true retrograde menstruation, but rather the menstrual blood does not flow down the Chong Mai, but is caused by the upward flow of liver fire, or blood heat damaging the collaterals. After these symptoms appear, menstruation will be delayed, the menstrual volume will be small, or even amenorrhea will occur.

Some people also believe that it is caused by the endometrium running to the nasal mucosa along with the blood, and blood disease is also one of the factors that cause retrograde menstruation. Nosebleeds during menstruation are mostly caused by endometriosis, and the endometrium has little effect on the nasal cavity. It's just that periodic bleeding occurs with the changes in the ovaries and hormones. In this way, a small hematoma will be formed at the settlement point, but the mucosal tissue in the nasal cavity is relatively fragile, and the hematoma can easily break through the barrier and cause bleeding. The capillary network in the nasal mucosa will make bleeding more serious. There are two main reasons: blood heat and liver fire.

What to do if you have a nosebleed during your period

At present, there is no ideal treatment for retrograde menstruation. The general treatment principle is to correct local lesions, often using electrocautery of bleeding points and endometriotic foci. Methyltestosterone and synthetic progestins can also be used for treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that retrograde menstruation is caused by blood heat and qi reversal, and is related to liver qi disharmony, excessive liver fire, or a usual preference for spicy food. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique therapeutic effects in treating retrograde menstruation. According to the principles of "clearing heat" and "soothing adverse conditions", it often uses the methods of clearing heat, relieving adverse conditions and guiding blood downward. Clinically, syndrome differentiation and treatment can be carried out according to the patient's accompanying symptoms, which are usually divided into two types: liver meridian stagnation of heat and lung and kidney yin deficiency.

Patients with liver meridian stagnation and heat type have nose bleeding during each menstrual period or before menstruation. The amount of bleeding is heavy and the blood is bright red. They are accompanied by irritability, pain in the ribs, dizziness and bitter taste in the mouth. Some patients also experience early menstruation, with little flow, and gradually develop amenorrhea. The tongue is red with yellow coating, and the pulse is stringy and rapid. The treatment should be to relieve depression and clear the liver, reduce adverse reactions and stop bleeding. Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder plus Chuanxiong, Imperata Root, and Rubia cordifolia can be used for treatment.

The lung and kidney yin deficiency type is manifested by nose bleeding during or after menstruation, with a small amount of dark red blood, and common symptoms include dizziness, tinnitus, hot flashes, red cheeks, dry mouth and cough, hot hands and feet, red lips and night sweats, red tongue without coating, and a thin and rapid pulse. The treatment should be to nourish yin and reduce adverse reactions, nourish the kidneys and moisten the lungs. "Shunjing Decoction" combined with Erzhi Pills can be used for treatment.