Heavy periods are something many women experience. If you’re using more sanitary products than usual or experiencing leakage onto your clothes, you may have heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).
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When you’re getting ready to have your period every month, the lining of your uterus thickens in preparation for a fertilised egg to implant and develop. If this doesn’t occur, the lining of the uterus is shed as your period.
If you have heavy periods, the amount of blood you lose will be much more substantial. It can be tricky to define how much bleeding is considered heavy as every woman’s cycle can be completely different. A menstrual cycle is considered regular if it occurs every 21-35 days. There are always natural variations from woman to woman.
Different lifestyle factors can cause changes to menstrual cycles too. For instance, increased stress, dietary changes or if you’ve been unwell. These can all cause heavier and more painful periods.
Typically, if you find you’re needing to change your sanitary towel or tampon every two or three hours, you’re passing blood clots, or you’re experiencing blood leakage on your clothes or bedding, it might be a sign you’re experiencing heavy periods.
Who gets heavy periods?
Any woman can experience heavy periods at any stage of her menstrual life, and there doesn’t need to be an underlying cause. Stress, illness or generally feeling run down can all contribute to changes in your periods.
Menstrual cycles that are irregular can often cause heavy bleeding, and conditions like endometriosis or fibroids can cause heavy, painful periods. Polycystic ovaries can cause irregular cycles and erratic menstrual bleeding. If you think you’re experiencing the signs and symptoms of any of these conditions, it could be a good idea to have a chat with a clinician about it and get yourself checked out.
How common are heavy periods?
Heavy periods are common. Most women will experience them at some stage, for a number of reasons. Life changes, stress and illness can all bring about disruption to your menstrual cycle.
It’s believed that the prevalence of diagnosed heavy menstrual bleeding is as much as 37.9% in women of reproductive age. Many more women may experience heavy periods, but haven’t sought help or spoken to a healthcare professional about it. Our clinicians are on hand to answer any questions you have about heavy periods. You just need to log in to your account and send them a message.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Heavy periods
What causes heavy periods?
There can be a number of different causes of heavy periods and they can arise from a range of underlying health issues. Endometriosis and fibroids can cause them, as can other conditions such as polycystic ovaries and hypothyroidism. Anaemia (loss of iron) can arise from heavy periods, but it can also cause them too.
Different medications and treatments for other illnesses can sometimes cause heavy periods as well. These include:
antidepressants: which are prescribed for mental health conditions
anticoagulants: medicines which are used to treat conditions of the heart and blood (they can thin your blood and make menstruation heavier)
chemotherapy: sometimes the treatments used for different forms of cancer can cause side effects such as heavy monthly bleeds
hormonal contraceptives: medicines used for birth control such as the pill, or the IUD coil can cause heavy bleeding, so it might be worth talking to your clinician or nurse if you think either of these might be causing issues.
Half of the number of women who experience heavy periods find that there is no specific cause. This is then often defined as dysfunctional uterine bleeding. This means that there’s no illness causing the heavy periods. However, the signs, symptoms and side effects are just as valid and unpleasant. It’s still just as important to take good care of your health and speak to a clinician if you’d like some advice on how to look after yourself.
What are the symptoms of heavy periods?
Heavy periods are defined as losing 80ml or more of blood with each cycle, a period that lasts longer than seven days or both of these combined.
Many women lose less than 80ml of blood during their period. 80ml is about 16 teaspoons, and the average blood loss for most women is about six to eight teaspoons.
However, blood loss doesn’t always need to be measured as there are so many variations in women’s periods. You’ll know how much bleeding is normal for you, and you’ll know if it’s suddenly heavier.
Here are some good indications that you’re experiencing heavy periods.
Do you have to change your sanitary products every 2-3 hours?
Do you pass blood clots larger than 2.5cm (about the size of a 10p coin)?
Do you bleed through to your clothes or bedding?
Do you need to use 2 types of sanitary products together (for example, tampons and pads) or do you rely on Night Time pads all the time?
If you’ve noticed one or more of these symptoms and they’ve lasted more than a few months then it’s a good idea to speak to a clinician and get some advice on the best way forward.
Can heavy periods lead to other problems?
They can be really frustrating, painful and distressing, but heavy periods don’t necessarily lead to other health problems in their own right. However, they can indicate other underlying conditions such as anaemia, endometriosis, fibroids and polycystic ovaries.
If your periods have suddenly become heavier, or you generally have queries or questions about them, our clinical team can help.
Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Have that long, warm soak in the bath and treat yourself to your favourite snacks. Self-care is just as important as medical care. We get that.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Heavy periods
What treatments are there for heavy periods?
There are a range of treatment options for heavy periods. These include:
intrauterine system (IUS)
tranexamic acid
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
the combined oral contraceptive pill
When you chat to us about your heavy periods, we’ll take into account your health needs, any other treatments you’re having and any possible underlying causes before we make a decision with you on how to move forward.
Is there a ‘best’ treatment for heavy periods?
There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to treating heavy periods, and how you move forward with your treatment will depend on what you respond the best to as well as your other health needs. For many women, the preferred first port of call for treatment is the intrauterine system. This might not be for everyone, as it’s a method of contraception and can sometimes take up to six further periods before any long term effects are felt. You can always talk to us about your symptoms and we’ll help find the right treatment for you that fits in with you and your life.
Do heavy periods always need treatment?
If this is the first time you’ve experienced heavy periods, or they have appeared suddenly then it’s worth seeing a clinician to make sure that there are no other health issues that need to be checked out. You can then have a chat about treatment options based on your personal circumstances and your lifestyle. If you have no underlying causes for heavy periods, you can still opt for treatments to make the signs and symptoms more bearable so you can go with the flow and get on with your life, worry free.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Heavy periods
FAQ: Heavy periods
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How are heavy periods diagnosed?
Answer:
A clinician will be able to diagnose you and advise you on this. They’ll chat to you about your medical history, any other conditions you have and what your periods are like. They’ll ask how much they affect your daily life.
You should also request a blood test from them to make sure you don’t have iron-deficiency anaemia which is often caused by heavy periods.
Often, they’ll give you a physical examination or refer you for an ultrasound or MRI to make sure that your heavy periods aren’t caused by something else, such as endometriosis, fibroids or polycystic ovaries.
Are there tests for heavy periods?
Answer:
There aren’t specific tests for heavy periods, but there are diagnostic processes you can have to make sure that your heavy periods aren’t being caused by something else, like the conditions mentioned previously.
You might be referred for an MRI, an ultrasound scan or even a hysteroscopy to make sure all is otherwise well. These procedures don’t take long and can be the best way of making sure your menstrual health is being well looked after.
Can you get side effects from heavy period treatments?
Answer:
With every treatment for heavy periods, there is a risk of side effects, and every woman will respond differently according to the options they’re offered.
We’ve got loads of helpful advice on our product pages for heavy period treatments. They explain our full range of treatment options and you can discuss which one would suit you best with one of our clinicians.
Do heavy period treatments always work?
Answer:
With treatment for heavy periods, it’s always about finding the right path forward depending on your personal needs, lifestyle and any other health conditions you might have.
There are varying degrees of treatment and side effects associated with them, but equally, it’s about making sure you’re happy, healthy and comfortable.
We’ll always fully discuss your needs and any questions you might have so you have all the information you need on heavy period treatment.
Why should I buy heavy periods treatment online with Treated?
Answer:
If your symptoms are new, and you’re experiencing heavy periods for the first time, you should always chat to your clinician first. This is so they can make sure there are no other underlying causes that need to be investigated.
If you’ve got a diagnosis, we can talk to you about your treatment options and find a way forward that puts you in control. We’ll help you find a treatment that’s right for you based on your lifestyle and your healthcare needs. Change, pause or cancel your subscription anytime.
Once you’ve started treatment we’ll always follow up with you to ensure you’re doing well, that everything is working as you’d hope and to make sure we answer any queries or questions you might have about how things are going.
Kocaoz, S., Cirpan, R. and Degirmencioglu, A.Z. (2019).
The prevalence and impacts heavy menstrual bleeding on anemia, fatigue and quality of life in women of reproductive age. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, [online] 35(2). Available at:
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