What is a heavy period?
Every woman has a unique menstrual flow, and some women have naturally heavier periods than others. However, your period may be abnormally heavy if you:
- Have to change your tampon or pad every hour, for several consecutive hours
- Need to get up in the night to replace your sanitary product
- Need to use a tampon and a pad at the same time
- Pass blood clots bigger than the size of a quarter
- Bleed through your clothing
- Have your period for longer than a week
Menorrhagia is the clinical term for an abnormally heavy period. If you have menorrhagia, your periods severely disrupt your life. You may miss work or school every month because of blood loss and heavy cramping.
If you have these symptoms on a regular basis, it’s a good idea to come in for medical assessment and treatment. Women who experience bleeding between periods or after menopause should also be evaluated.
What causes heavy periods?
Many conditions and factors can cause abnormally heavy periods, including:
- Hormonal issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance, and thyroid problems
- Dysfunctional ovaries that don’t release an egg each month
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Uterine polyps
- Intrauterine devices (IUD)
- Uterine and cervical cancer
- Pregnancy complications
You may also have heavy periods if you’re overweight or obese. Pelvic infections and pelvic inflammatory disease can also contribute to heavy periods.
What are the treatments for heavy periods?
The treatments for heavy periods depend on the condition causing them. For example, your doctor may prescribe birth control pills or hormone therapy to regulate your estrogen and progesterone levels. You may also benefit from taking an iron supplement during your period to prevent fatigue and other symptoms of anemia.
If you have fibroids or polyps, your doctor may recommend a minimally invasive procedure to remove them. If other treatments aren’t successful, your doctor may suggest endometrial ablation to reduce or eliminate heavy periods.
Your period shouldn’t significantly disrupt your life. If your bleeding and cramping prevent you from completing your regular activities and responsibilities, schedule an appointment at Contemporary Women’s Care by calling the practice or booking online.
