My Period Flow Is Heavier Than Normal

You Have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Is My Menstrual Period Normal?

PCOS is a condition where women overproduce amounts of male hormones, which can suppress ovulation. Women with PCOS will have a long history of irregular cycles, explains Dr. Richardson. They may also have months when they don’t have a menstrual cycle at all because of their imbalanced hormone levels.

If youre suffering from PCOS, youll likely also experience cysts on your ovaries, hirsutism , acne, obesity, and infertility, she says. PCOS is not a medical emergency, but seeing your ob-gyn as soon as possible to prescribe medication can help minimize the symptoms.

When Should I Be Concerned About A Heavy Period

If you need to change your tampon or pad after less than 2 hours or you pass clots the size of a quarter or larger, that is heavy bleeding. If you have this type of bleeding, you should see a doctor. Untreated heavy or prolonged bleeding can stop you from living your life to the fullest. It also can cause anemia.

What Is Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Heavy menstrual bleeding is when your periods are extremely heavy or prolonged. “Heavy” means that your period lasts longer than seven days or that you lose more blood than is typical during menstruation. You may bleed so much that you have to change your tampon or pad every hour for several hours back-to-back. You may pass blood clots the size of a quarter or even larger.

Menstrual bleeding that’s so heavy that it interferes with your daily life is never normal. Your provider can recommend treatments to manage heavy blood flow.

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How Do You Know If You Have Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Heavy menstrual bleeding interferes with your quality of life. Many people with heavy periods assume that periods are supposed to be inconvenient and uncomfortable. They may have watched people in their families live with heavy periods without seeking care and followed their example. But periods should never cause you to restrict activities or accept inconvenience.

During your period, you should be able to:

  • Wear a standard pad or tampon every three to four hours without changing it.
  • Wear a single menstrual product without having to double-up at any point.
  • Leave your home without having to pack extra bags of pads or clothing changes.
  • Live your life as usual, without missing work, avoiding going out in public, or skipping activities you enjoy.

If your periods are disrupting your life, it’s time to see your provider.

How Do I Know When I Will Get My Next Period

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (menorrhagia) Causes, Symptoms ...

Its impossible to predict when your next period will start. Most girls and women go about 28 days from the first day of one period to the first day of the next, but anywhere from 21-35 days is normal. Especially in the first few years of menstruating, your period may be very irregular. If you track your period on a calendar , you will begin to notice a pattern over time. You can use this menstrual diary to keep track of your periods.

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Cancer Of The Endometrium

Cancer that affects the endometrium of the uterus can cause bleeding in women especially after 40 years. However, younger women may have prolonged heavy period, abdominal pain and vaginal pain during intercourse.

If your doctor suspects cancer as the cause of your long heavy periods, removal of the uterus or hysterectomy will be performed. Removal of the uterus with radio or chemotherapy can achieve cure if done early.

You Just Switched Up Your Birth Control

If youve just switched to the mini-pills or are coming off oral contraceptives entirely, chances are you will notice a heavier flow. The patch is also associated with lighter periods, so discontinuing use of it may cause your flow to get heavier.

In general, when discontinuing hormonal contraception, your period habits will likely revert to what they were prior to initiating.

When it comes to IUDs, while the hormonal varieties such as Mirena tm, Kyleena tm and Liletta tm are associated with lighter periods, the non-hormonal copper IUD Paraguard tm, may actually cause heavier bleeding in many women.

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Other Medical Culprits For Light Periods

These other conditions can also cause period irregularities:

  • Primary ovarian insufficiency. When a womans ovaries stop functioning before the age of 40.
  • Thyroid dysfunction. Producing too much or too little of the hormones that regulates metabolism.
  • Uncontrolled diabetes. Dysfunction of the bodys ability to use glucose in the blood.
  • Cushings syndrome. An illness caused by overproduction of cortisol.
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. A rare genetic condition affecting the adrenal glands.
  • Uterine scarring. Caused by intrauterine procedures, surgery, or inflammation.

Anyone can experience menstrual changes due to these and other causes. These factors make it more likely to happen:

  • pregnancy and breastfeeding

A Period Thats Heavy On The First Day

What does it mean if my period seems abnormally light or short?

Many women experience heavier bleeding on the first day of a period and lighter bleeding on the last days. A heavy flow that might get in the way of your normal activities is unusual.

Birth control changes

If you recently stopped using hormonal birth control, your periods may be very heavy in the first days as your cycle adjusts to the hormone changes.

Medication changes

Like birth control, medications you take may interfere with your cycle and lead to heavy bleeding on the first day of your period.

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What Is A Normal Perfect Healthy Period

  • Your cycle should last 26-32 days anywhere in between is fine as long as it is regular and consistent for you.
  • Your bleed should be the color of cranberry juice from start to finish, with no clots. A nice, strong, flow that isnt inconveniently heavy and has you running to the bathroom every hour. Your period should really start first thing in the morning, without any brown stains leading up to the appearance of that cranberry red. And it should last 4-7 days, not longer or shorter.
  • You should be able to feel your uterus in action with some slight sensations or warm feelings, but there should not be any kind of pain that might have you reaching for drugs or hot water bottles.
  • After your period, leading up to ovulation, you should see the development of cervical fluid, which is an indicator of healthy fertility and necessary for getting pregnant. You might see this in your underwear or when you wipe after using the bathroom.
  • Rather than PMS, you should notice an increase in upbeat, social energy towards the middle of your cycle, thats post-period, and then, in the second half of your cycle, a more focused, determined energy to get things accomplished.
  • I want to shout it from the rooftops: You can have the perfect period!

    Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this the science of your body is on your side!

    to your FLO,

    Why Do I Have Period For 2 Weeks

    A normal period is between 2 days and a week. If your period lasts more than a week, then its abnormal. Also, if you continue to see your periods for two weeks, then it is prolonged. Inform your doctor. Common causes of prolonged bleeding depend on your age. A uterine fibroid is common in young women while endometrial hyperplasia and cancer are common in older women.

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    How Is Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Treated

    Treatment depends on what’s causing your bleeding, how severe your bleeding is, your health, age and medical history. Also, treatment depends on your response to certain medicines and your preferences. For instance, you may not want to have a period at all, or you may want to reduce your bleeding. In addition, your plans to get pregnant will affect your treatment options.

    Talk with your provider about your health concerns and your goals for treatment.

    Medications used to treat heavy menstrual bleeding

    • Iron supplements improve your iron stores.
    • Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs like Ibuprofen® or Aspirin® can ease your cramps and reduce your bleeding.
    • Birth control may help make your periods more regular and lighten your blood flow.
    • Hormone therapy can help balance the amount of estrogen and progesterone in your body so that your menstrual flow isn’t as heavy. HT is often recommended for heavy menstrual bleeding associated with perimenopause but comes with risks that you should discuss with your provider.
    • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists can temporarily stop or reduce bleeding by preventing ovulation.
    • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists can manage heavy period bleeding related to fibroids.
    • Desmopressin nasal spray can stop bleeding associated with von Willebrand disease by helping your blood clot.
    • Antifibrinolytic medicines, like tranexamic acid, prevent clots from breaking down and causing excessive bleeding.

    Procedures used to treat heavy period bleeding

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    Period Blood Clots: Are They Normal And What Do They Mean?

    Anticoagulants, often referred to as blood thinners, are often taken to help people reduce and break up potentially dangerous blood clots. While anticoagulants like aspirin allow blood to flow through your body more easily, thus decreasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke, they also allow blood to flow more freely down there, according to research from the Royal Free Hospital in London. Your M.D. could help you figure out what meds might be best to prevent this from happening.

    Watch 5 women share their first period stories:

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    How To Get Rid Of Heavy Period Surgically

    Surgery can be an option if medically treatment of heavy flow fails. If you already completed childbirth, then surgery option totally solves your bleeding problems.

    Endometrial ablation

    This process uses an electrical diathermy loop to destroy the endometrium preventing it from regenerating.

    Hysterectomy

    Removal of the fibroid mass

    Why Is My Period Lighter Than Usual

    Periods are rarely discussed and are often a taboo subject, but they can indicate a lot of different aspects about a womans health. Whether you learned about menstruation in biology or sex education class, its important to know how your periods are linked with your hormonal health. Look at the toilet prior to flushing, not just to check your urine or poop, but also your menstrual blood. Your period can tell you all about your health, so heres a breakdown of whats normal and whats not at each age.

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    What Is Normal Period Length And Menstrual Flow

    In women, period occurs due to regular cyclic shredding of the endometrium covering the uterus. This is due to hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle.

    What is menstrual cycle? Menstrual cycle is the time difference between 2 of your periods. It varies from women to women but usually last 21 to 35 days.

    How long do your period last? Normal girls period last for 2 to 7 days. Period flow may be heavy during the first days of menstruation. However as your period progresses, it becomes lighter with less pain during period

    How does period occur? During your cycle, estrogen and progesterone play a crucial role to ensure the thickening and maturation of the endometrium. After ovulation occurs and if the egg released is fertilized by the sperm, it is implanted into the endometrium.

    Before ovulation, estrogen is the dominant type of hormone produced by the growing follicles. However, after ovulation, the ruptured follicle forms the corpus luteum which increases production of progesterone.

    If your egg released is not fertilized and implanted into the uterus, it causes the corpus luteum to breakdown. This will result to decreased hormones and shredding of your endometrium as period.

    When is period said to be prolonged?

    Long or prolonged periods is when your menstruation last more than the usual 7 days.

    When To Contact A Doctor

    5 Signs of Heavy Periods | Heavy periods are not normal!

    Having a light period is not usually a cause for concern. However, if someone has consistently light periods or starts skipping periods altogether, they should talk with a doctor.

    A person should also contact a doctor if a light period coincides with other symptoms that are causing concern, such as pelvic pain.

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    Period Lasting 2 3 4 Weeks With Brown Discharge

    If you continue to see your period for 2 or 3 weeks, then its abnormal. Common causes are a miscarriage, uterine fibroid, vaginal infections or cancer. If you are above 40 or already stop seeing your period, then this type of bleeding may be due to cancer. However, in your

    If you are above 40 or already stop seeing your period, then this type of bleeding may be attributable to cancer.

    However, in young women, a miscarriage or fibroid is a common cause.

    Why do I see brown discharge instead of period?

    If your blood mixes with clear white discharge in your vagina, you will notice a dark or brown discharge.

    Signs You Have A Normal Healthy Period

    Last updated on by Alisa Vitti

    Weve all met those women the ones that are quick to tell everyone that their period is totally light, quick, pain and problem-free! Like those women in the commercials, running around playing tennis and horseback riding, as if nothing were happening down there.

    We tend to think those women are just plain lucky, that its a happy accident of fate whether you experience an easy period or a hard period. We assume something goes on in that mysterious process that either delivers you with a life of period positivity or a life of hating your period. We think: Maybe its in the genes?

    And, if that lady isnt you if you do suffer every month with heavy bleeding, cramps, periods that go on forever, horrible PMS symptoms like moodiness and cravingswell then it can be really annoying to hear about someone elses great period! You might even be in the situation where you have to explain your problem periods to your boss or co-workers, friends and family, because you just cant carry on with life when youre bleeding.

    I have a confession to make, though, I am one of those women with a great period that causes me no problems! I even went on the Dr. Oz show to tell him about how great my period is!

    But, I didnt used to be one of those women. Before I developed the Flo Living protocol my periods were a real pain in the ass. So, I get where youre coming from.

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    How Do I Use A Tampon

    Inserting a tampon for the first time can be a bit of a challenge. Its hard to know exactly how to position your body and at what angle to put the tampon in. After a few tries, you will figure out what works best for you. Its best to use slender size tampons when you are learning. If you arent exactly sure where your vaginal opening is, use a mirror to have a look at your vulva .

    To insert a tampon that has an applicator:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Unwrap the tampon from its packaging and sit or stand in a comfortable position. Some women prefer to stand up and put one leg up on the toilet or tub, some prefer to remain sitting, or squat down.
  • Hold the tampon with your thumb and middle finger at the top of the outer tube. Insert the tampon into the vaginal opening, aiming it at your lower back. Once the outer tube is inside your vagina, push the inner tube of the applicator with your index finger.
  • Remove the applicator from your vagina and make sure the string of the tampon is hanging outside of your vaginal opening.
  • Wash your hands.
  • Once you are ready to remove the tampon, pull the string downward.
  • Tampons should be disposed of in the garbage, and not flushed down the toilet.
  • To insert a tampon without an applicator:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Unwrap the tampon from its packaging and sit or stand in a comfortable position. Some women prefer to stand up and put one leg up on the toilet or tub, others prefer to remain sitting, or squat down.
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