Which term means a heavy and prolonged menstrual period?

• A. Dysmenorrhea
• B. Polymenorrhea
• C. Menorrhagia
• D. Metrorrhagia

Answer: (C)

Heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding is described by menorrhagia. This term covers both a high volume of blood loss and a longer duration of bleeding, often defined as lasting more than seven days or requiring frequent changes of menstrual products. Dysmenorrhea refers to painful cramps, not the amount of bleeding. Polymenorrhea means cycles that are too frequent. Metrorrhagia is bleeding at irregular intervals between periods. So the term that best fits a heavy and prolonged period is menorrhagia.