Can I Figure Out How Much Im Bleeding
The easiest way, knowing that one soaked, normal-sized sanitary product holds about a teaspoon of blood loss. Keeping the Menstrual Cycle Diary or Daily Perimenopause Diary is a convenient way to assess the amount and timing of flow using either a count of soaked regular sized sanitary products or a measuring menstrual cup. . To accurately record the number of soaked sanitary products each day you need to recall the number you changed that were half full and multiply that to give the number of fully soaked ones. A maxi or super tampon or pad holds about two teaspoons or 10ml of bloodtherefore record each larger soaked sanitary product as a 2. In addition, record your best judgment about the amount of flow where a 1 is spotting, 2 means normal flow, 3 is slightly heavy and 4 is very heavy with flooding and/or clots. If the number of soaked sanitary products totals 16 or more or if you are recording 4s you have very heavy flow. To measure your flow using a menstrual cup with measurements, just add up the approximate amounts from each time you emptied it and record on the “# of pads/tampons” line.
An Introduction To Heavy Periods And Menopause
In the lead up to the menopause, known as the peri-menopause, many women experience changes to their normal menstrual cycle, including unusually heavy bleeding. This symptom is usually accompanied by irregular periods. A woman may go for several months without a period and then experience particularly heavy bleeding, or may find her periods coming thick and fast.
Aside from the obvious inconvenience of this, heavy bleeding may also lead to further health problems, such as anaemia. This is when there is not a high enough level of iron in the body. This can lead to extreme exhaustion and weakness.
While many women suffer from heavy periods in the lead up to their menopause, it is important to remember that prolonged bleeding should be checked by your doctor. Bleeding for longer than 1 week per month is not healthy.
How To Deal With Heavy Periods Heavy Menstrual Cycle
Women are often dismayed to go through years of what would be considered normal periods, only to find at some point that their period has become heavy and rather unmanageable. Heavy periods, also called menorrhagia, are characterized by blood loss of more that 8 teaspoons per period , passing of large clots, and the need to change protection during the night.
Having said all that, a heavy period is still a very subjective term as periods vary from woman to woman in duration, the span between periods, discomfort and amount of blood loss. Heavy periods are not necessarily a problem unless they cause undue inconvenience or other physical issues such as anemia, which can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, faintness and when severe enough, angina.
Sometimes the cause of heavy periods is simply not known. In order to determine the cause in each individual, a visit to the doctor is necessary. Here are some possibilities:
If youre suffering from heavy periods, you should see your doctor to rule out any problems that require immediate attention. Most often, heavy periods signal hormonal imbalances that can be fairly easily corrected or other condition that may require little or no intervention unless the bleeding is causing disruptions in your life.
It isnt necessary to panic over heavy periods, especially if they come at regular intervals and youre feeling well otherwise. If youre reaching the years of perimenopause, heavier periods almost always come with the territory.
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Very Heavy Menstrual Flow
When periods are very heavy or you are experiencing flooding or passing big clots you have what doctors call menorrhagia. The purpose of this article is to define normal and very heavy menstrual bleeding, to explain what causes heavy flow, and to show what you yourself can do in dealing with heavy flow.
This, and the article called Managing MenorrhagiaEffective Medical Treatments for your doctor or health care provider, are to help you avoid surgeries for heavy flow (
What About Conventional Medicine
Your doctor will discuss which treatment would be most effective for you. He may suggest a contraceptive pill or HRT which would influence your hormones in order to regulate your periods. However, it is important to be aware of the side effects of these treatments. He may also give you medication to stop flooding quickly, if your periods are very heavy or prolonged.
If you are worried that your heavy periods are caused by an underlying health issue or are resulting in anaemia, then it is also important to visit your doctor. Heavy periods are not something which should be ignored, as loss of blood can be detrimental to health.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding may include:
- Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours
- Needing to wake up to change sanitary protection during the night
- Needing to use double sanitary protection to control the menstrual flow
- Menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than a week
- Symptoms of anemia, like fatigue, light-headedness and shortness of breath
- Passing blood clots larger than a quarter
- Restricting activities because of heavy menstrual flow
Tips For Dealing With Heavy Periods
by Artemis Menstrual Health and Gynecology | Apr 15, 2021 | Uncategorized |
Theres no getting around it, your monthly period can be a nuisance. But when youre regularly dealing with a heavy or long-lasting menstrual flow, your period can go from minor inconvenience to painful and disruptive.
At Artemis Menstrual Health and Gynecology in Lockport, New York, our skilled team believes no one should have to suffer from heavy periods.
Whether youre experiencing heavy monthly menstrual flow or abnormal uterine bleeding, we have solutions to address your discomfort and treat any underlying health conditions.
Here, board-certified gynecologist , discusses heavy periods and details how at-home and gynecological care can bring you relief.
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Why Menstrual Cups Are The Best Solution For Heavy Periods:
- A menstrual cup holds 3 times more fluid than tampons for heavy periods. Once inserted correctly you are unlikely to leak.
- With a larger capacity than tampons or pads, this means fewer bathroom visits. You can wear your period cup for up to 8 hours.
- Unlike bulky menstrual products, you wont even notice you are using it. With a menstrual cup, you can wear your usual clothes and maintain an active lifestyle without any compromises.
- Menstrual cups are a healthy and safe period product. The premium medical-grade silicone of the Ruby Cup does not dry you out or leave cotton residue in your vagina.
- As its a reusable product, no emergency runs to the pharmacy are needed and you avoid up to 200 disposable products each year you use a menstrual cup.
How Can I Stop Heavy Periods
If youve heard that the only options for treating heavy periods are hormone therapy or surgery, thats not true! Just like there are many causes of menorrhagia, there are many treatment options available. Were often able to manage heavy periods with treatments ranging from diet changes to prescription medication.
Menorrhagia can usually be managed with medication and lifestyle changes. In some cases, heavy periods caused by fibroids, growths or endometriosis might be best treated with surgery. The best way to know which treatment options will work best for you is to talk to a doctor.
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Expert Management For Painful Periods And Heavy Bleeding
For most women, menstrual cycles occur about every 28 days, and periods last four to seven days. Abnormal menstruation includes problems such as heavy bleeding, known as menorrhagia, irregular menstrual bleeding, and pain during periods, known as dysmenorrhea.
UT Southwestern gynecologic surgeons, specialists, and their teams are nationally recognized for their expertise in womens health care. We participate in research to improve diagnosis, management, and treatment for heavy, irregular, painful periods. Our specialists are also faculty members, dedicated to educating future womens health doctors and other care providers.
Heavy Periods Were Ruining My Life And I Should Have Seen My Doctor Way Sooner
Its a random Tuesday. Im at work, typing away on my computer for longer than I should without taking a break. My mouth feels dry, so I grab my water bottle and stand up. Immediately, I feel a quarter-sized blood clot squeeze its way out of my vagina, followed by a river of blood.
When I look down at my seat, theres a dark spot spreading across the black fabric of my office chair. So I forget my dry mouth and rush to the bathroom, where I can see the damage my period has done. And then I tell my boss that I have to go home, because Im having another bad period day.
Most people who bleed from their private bits have been there. Its hard not to get a spot of blood on your pants every now and then. But its never just a small spot for me. I bleed through my pants as if its an Olympic sport and Im going for the gold.
Youd think my life-ruining period would motivate me to check in with a doctor, because theres clearly something wrong here. But it didnt. I spent several years just dealing with it. I bought pads that looked like mini mattresses, I hovered over a toilet while twisting a menstrual cup into my vagina , I tried laying on a period sex blanket at night to soak up the overflow .
I thought the bloody monsoon was something Id always have to deal with not normal for most people, but normal for me.
So take if from me: if heavy periods are messing with your life, make the doctor appointment sooner rather than later. Theres no reason you need to suffer.
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Eat Greens And Fruits
Eating healthy can be challenging yet rewarding. When youre regularly having heavy periods and might experience bloating from time to time, you might feel satiated and you dont want to be feeling full.
Most girls experience sweet cravings before and during their period. Sweets and eating sugary foods can actually lead to more bloat. Its best to eat green leafy vegetables and fruits.
Leafy vegetables like cabbage and spinach contain lots of essential vitamins like iron and bioflavonoids that lower estrogen levels of your body. They help regulate your menstrual flow and give you enough iron so you wont feel dizzy and nauseated.
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Problems With Your Uterus
- Uterine fibroids or polyps. Fibroids are benign growths. Polyps are small growths that can attach to the interior lining of the uterus.
- Certain types of cancers.
- An ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when the baby grows outside the uterus.
- Hormone-related disorders.
Your period is actually a complicated process! The hormones estrogen and progesterone are in charge of building up the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus. This is what you shed when you are bleeding.
An imbalance in these hormones means there is too much endometrium. When it sheds away, the result is bleeding that is heavier than normal.
When To Seek Treatment For A Heavy Period
If youve been experiencing heavy menstrual flow for more than a few months, make an appointment to be evaluated at Artemis Menstrual Health and Gynecology.
Heavy periods might mean you have menorrhagia, a condition that can cause anemia, or indicate an underlying health problem that needs treatment. Even if you dont have an underlying condition, we can help you find solutions that relieve your pain and discomfort.
You should also make an appointment if you have any abnormal uterine bleeding between your periods, after sexual intercourse, or after menopause. This type of bleeding sometimes indicates a serious medical issue.
Your period doesnt have to get in the way of your active lifestyle. For help managing and reducing heavy periods, give us a call at Artemis Menstrual Health and Gynecology.
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How Do You Know If Your Bleeding Is Too Heavy
It is very difficult to determine whether your bleeding is too heavy. The best guide is to decide whether your period is having an impact on your quality of life if it is causing you to be housebound, interrupting your daily activities, or causing you stress and anxiety. The following signs might indicate you are experiencing heavy bleeding:
- bleeding or ‘flooding’ not contained within a pad/tampon
- changing a pad/tampon every hour or less
- changing a pad overnight
- clots greater than a 50-cent piece in size
- bleeding for more than seven to eight days.
What Is Considered A Heavy Period
In some cases, you may have a sudden heavy period that comes unexpectedly. Most women will occasionally have heavy bleeding. Its not unusual to have changes in your flow.
However, your period is a heavy period if it lasts for more than seven days or you need to change your pad or tampon after two hours. Some women actually have to double-up on pads. If this happens to you, please contact our office for an appointment.
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Give Menstrual Cup A Chance
We all know why sanitary pads and tampons are not safe for our reproductive health. Why not consider using a menstrual cup like the Anigan Eva Cup instead? Using the best menstrual cup for a heavy flow is the perfect solution.
Here are two convincing reasons to switch from your regular pad to menstrual cup:
- Some long time cup users claim that using the best cups are actually helpful in easing their menstrual cramps. They used to suffer from severe cramps and heavy periods and based on their experiences after using cups, they stopped having cramps and the period flow lighter than before.
- Most menstrual cups are meant to be used for heavier periods. They have greater capacity than sanitary napkins and tampons.
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