Cancer Rare Conditions And Other Causes
Research shows that endometrial cancera type of cancer that begins in the uterus and is mainly found in postmenopausal womencan be a possible cause of heavy menstrual bleeding.
Bleeding can also be associated with problems with the uterine lining, estrogen-modulating medications such as tamoxifen, and other conditions, such as an ectopic pregnancy.
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.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Heavy Period
Heavy periods fall on a spectrum. For some women, it can simply be defined as having a heavier flow than usual, causing you to soak through pads or tampons at a more rapid pace. Menorrhagia, on the other hand, is a serious diagnosis and can result in significant blood loss. Per the Mayo Clinic, some signs to watch out for include:
- Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours
- Needing to use double sanitary protection to control your menstrual flow
- Needing to wake up to change sanitary protection during the night
- Bleeding for longer than a week
- Passing blood clots larger than a quarter
- Restricting daily activities due to heavy menstrual flow
- Symptoms of anemia, such as tiredness, fatigue or shortness of breath
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When Should I Be Concerned About A Heavy Period
Periods can cause a lot of pain every month, and you may feel like your body is turning against you, but the good news is that it is rarely something you should be worried about. Dont worry you cant bleed to death from menorrhagia. If you feel weak or light-headed and are experiencing a very heavy period, talk to your doctor. You should only be concerned about your period if youve noticed it becoming heavier and heavier or more and more painful each month, or if it is suddenly very heavy. If you have a steady level of discomfort and one particularly heavy period, theres usually nothing to worry about.
What Do Blood Clots During A Period Mean
Its common to pass blood clots during your period, although not everyone does. You may pass blood clots up to the size of a quarter, or you may not pass any at all. Menstrual blood clots are a mixture of blood cells, tissue from the uterus lining and proteins regulating blood flow.Blot clots arent often anything to worry about, but if you see something that worries you, dont be afraid to reach out to a medical professional for reassurance.
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When Should You See A Doctor About Your Heavy Period
Again, whats considered heavy varies by person, according to Lucille Russo, M.D., an OB/GYN at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Illinois. For example, if youve had heavy periods all your life and been checked about it, that would be far less of a concern than if your periods suddenly became much heavier than usual.
1 out of 5 women deals with heavy periods, per the CDC.
Typically, I tell patients if they are soaking through a maxi pad or super tampon every hour for a few hours, they should call, says Dr. Russo. Also, if their periods are heavy and long, like lasting more than 10 days, or they are persistently bleeding between periods, they should contact their doctor.
Two other signs to make the call include seeing multiple clots that are bigger than 1-inch wide, and needing to us both pads and tampons at the same time, she adds.
Even if you dont have any of the underlying issues mentioned here, its worth speaking with your doctor about potential treatments, Dr. Russo says, because persistently heavy periods can often cause anemia, a condition where there arent enough healthy red blood cells to carry needed oxygen to your bodys tissues. That can lead to fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat with exercise.
Bottom line: In general, its likely you know when something seems wrong down thereget it checked to be safe.
Obesity Or Rapid Weight Gain
Again with the estrogen: Extreme weight gain can increase body fat, particularly in the abdominal region, which is where the majority of your estrogen is produced. Dr. Ross says that as estrogen increases, that can lead to thicker uterine lining and generally heavier periods. Women who have obesity also tend to experience periods that are longer than seven days and come with blood clots.
Significant weight loss can reverse this effect, she says. That causes a decrease in body fat and estrogen production, making your periods lighter.
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When Should You Seek Help From Your Healthcare Provider About Your Period Heaviness
If your period amount is regularly over 80 mL, your period is longer than 8 days in length, or if your menstrual flow is so heavy that you are repeatedly soaking through a pad or tampon every two hours, this is considered heavy menstrual bleeding, and should be discussed with your healthcare provider . This type of excessive menstrual bleeding can impact a personâs quality of life and can cause anemia . Heavy menstrual bleeding can have many potential causes including: fibroids , adenomyosis , problems with blood clotting , uterine polyps , and tumors .
If your period has stopped and you are not taking any form of hormonal contraceptive, you should also discuss this with your healthcare provider, as you could be pregnant.
Even if your period falls out of the âofficialâ typical range, itâs important to know what is ânormalâ for you. The majority of health research is conducted on populations from western industrialized countries, which may not reflect your own personal genetic background or environment. Everybody is different, just as everyone’s period is different. Speak to your healthcare provider if you are concerned about your period volume.
You Have Pelvis Inflammatory Disease
This is a nasty one, unfortunately. Pelvic inflammatory disease occurs when theres a bacterial infection in either the womb or the fallopian tubes, and an abnormally heavy period is one of the signs. But it wont occur on its own, so this isnt the right explanation for a heavy period with no other symptoms. Other signs of PID include painful sex and/or urination, an ache in the lower abdomen, a fever, nausea and strange green vaginal discharge â though its the sort of infection where symptoms can appear in various arrangements, not in one normal set.
Unfortunately, up to 90 percent of cases of PID are caused by the sexually transmitted infections chlamydia and gonorrhea, and it can cause serious problems for fertility, so if youre experiencing any of the symptoms get thee to a doctor immediately.
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A Recurring Period Thats Heavy And Painful
If every period is heavy, painful, and difficult to work around, you may have underlying, long-term issues.
Hormone problem
Your body typically balances progesterone and estrogen, the two hormones that play the biggest roles in menstruation.
Too much estrogen, however, can lead to a thickened uterine lining. This can cause heavy bleeding as the lining is eliminated during your period.
An underactive thyroid gland may also cause heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding
Bleeding disorder
Roughly 10 to 30 percent of women with heavy periods have a bleeding disorder, such as von Willebrand disease. These disorders can make it difficult to stop your bleeding.
Uterine polyps
These small growths on the lining of the uterus can make periods heavier.
Uterine fibroids
Fibroids are noncancerous growths of the muscle tissue of the uterus. They can develop on the outside of the uterus, within the wall, or protrude into the cavity or some combination of these.
Certain cancers
Cancer in your uterus, cervix, and ovaries is rarely the sole cause of heavy bleeding, but a heavier period may be a symptom.
Perimenopause
During this transition before menopause, you may experience hormonal changes and unusually heavy bleeding during your period.
Childbirth recovery
After you have a baby, heavy periods arent uncommon. These changes may be permanent, or your period may return to a flow similar to what you had before getting pregnant.
Adenomyosis
PCOS
Endometriosis
- painful periods
Normal Vs Heavy Periods
Heavy period bleeding, also called menorrhagia, is a common condition experienced by menstruating women. About 1 in 5 women will experience heavy periods. If your periods are heavier than usual and it is affecting the quality of your life, you may need medical treatment.
Heres what you need to know.
The amount of normal menstrual bleeding can vary from woman to woman. Period bleeding usually lasts from 4 to 5 days, and the amount of blood lost is typically about 2 to 3 tablespoons.
You can think of your periods as being heavy if they last longer than 7 days or if you lose a lot more blood than you normally do. You may have to change your pad or tampon every hour for hours at a time. Clots may be as large as a quarter or even larger.
If you have to wear more than one pad at a time to manage the blood flow or you have to change your pads during the night, you may be having heavy periods.
Another sign that your periods are heavy is a feeling of constant pain in the lower part of your abdomen. Particularly heavy periods may cause you to take time off from work and skip activities that you enjoy.
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Why Is My Period More Painful And Heavier Than Usual
A sudden heavy period may be the result of normal hormonal fluctuations or a side effect of birth control. However, heavy periods can also indicate an underlying health condition. A person should talk to their doctor if they experience heavy bleeding or cramping that prevents them from completing normal activities.
What Is The Typical Period Volume For People On Hormonal Birth Control
Hormonal birth control options like the pill, vaginal ring, or patch control the release and regulation of hormones like estrogen and progesterone within your body. When used correctly, the hormones in HBC prevent your ovaries from preparing and releasing eggs .
Your period will change depending on the type of HBC you use. Bleeding typically happens during your âno hormoneâ days . The bleeding you experience while using hormonal birth control is called withdrawal bleeding, and is not considered a menstrual period. Withdrawal bleeding is caused by the decline in reproductive hormones in your body during days when you get low or no hormones from your pill, patch, or ring .
Many people experience lighter bleeding and some donât bleed at all while using hormonal birth control . When affected by hormonal birth control, the lining of your uterus doesn’t thicken as much as it does without hormonal birth control. This typically results in lighter, shorter, or occasionally absent âperiods,â especially for people who have been using hormonal birth control for many months or years.
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You Have A Hormonal Imbalance
The hormones estrogen and progesterone normally work together to regulate your monthly period. But your cycle can become heavier or lighter when the two are out of whack, Dr. Wu says.
Some of the most common things that can lead to a hormonal imbalance and effect your cycle include polycystic ovary syndrome , insulin resistance, thyroid problems and obesity, according to the Mayo Clinic.
âFix it: âMake an appointment with your gynecologist to discuss your symptoms. Getting your hormones back into balance starts with determining the underlying cause.
How To Treat The Problem
If you have one heavy period, it can be common to experience these infrequently and there may be no need to consult your GP. However, if you experience a persistent change with a heavier flow for three months or more, you should consult your doctor. Also, the NHS state that if you are experiencing other symptoms such as severe cramp and bleeding between periods then a doctor will be able to see if there is an underlying cause for this.
Some common treatments for heavy periods include contraceptives though I won’t go into the details much more than this as what you are prescribed will depend on what’s going on with your body!
Once you’ve got the green light from your doctor, a herbal remedy such as Agnus castus may be used to address heavy periods.
This symptom is often associated with too much oestrogen or too little progesterone but the remedy helps to balance these things out. Please note however, that Agnus castus cannot be used alongside hormonal contraceptives.
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You’re Taking Blood Thinners
Anticoagulants that prevent your blood from clotting, such as warfarin or enoxaparin, can increase bleeding risk in general. So it’s common for them to make your periods longer and heavier too, per the Mayo Clinic.
âFix it: âLet your gynecologist know if your blood thinners are making your periods unusually heavy. They might recommend a hormonal IUD to reduce bleeding. In some cases, endometrial ablation can also be used to remove a thin layer of the uterine lining, which can also lessen bleeding, Dr. Wu says.
Every Woman Is Different
From Dr. Bradleys perspective, its all about each womans choice. If a woman is healthy and doesnt have a problem coping with a heavier period, then doing nothing is the right option for her.
What matters most is that women knowtheir bodies and understand that there are alternatives to a hysterectomy ifheavy periods are a problem.
At no point in our livesshould our periods stop us from living, she says.
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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:
Abnormally heavy periods might also be a sign of blood disorder. While there are many different types of blood conditions, two to four million Americans suffer from von Willebrand disease , which means they dont have a specific blood-clotting protein, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. See your doc if you think you might have this problem.
Heavier Period Than Usual Here’s What Your Body’s Trying To Tell You
Your period tends to serve as a temperature check for what’s going on in the rest of your body. So if the bleeding has gotten really heavy and uncomfortable, there’s a good chance something else is going on.
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Heavier-than-normal periods are typically defined as having to change your tampon or pad after less than two hours or passing clots that are bigger than a quarter. That said, any time your period seems to veer off from âyourâ normal for more than a cycle or two, it’s worth paying attention, says Jennifer Wu, MD, an ob-gyn with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
That’s not to say that heavy bleeding always indicates a major problem. Often, the culprit is a harmless fibroid, wrong-for-you birth control or hormonal shifts like perimenopause. If you’re wondering why your period is so heavy, here are some potential things you might be dealing with, plus the best options for getting your period under control.
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Use Of Intrauterine Devices
If you experience prolonged periods after inserting an IUD, which is a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy, then it may be the cause. Should I worry about it? Not yet. Prolonged periods after IUDs are common in the first few months of inserting it. If it gets persistent with really heavy bleeding, then you should let your doctor know.
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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.
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What Does A Heavy Period Look Like
Everyone has different versions of what a heavy flow feels and looks like. For some, a heavy first day might mean that they need to change their tampon or sanitary towel every four hours, whereas some may need to do the same twice as much for the first day or two of their period. Essentially, a heavy period is any time you feel youre seeing significantly more blood over the course of your period than usual.