Why Is My Period So Heavy And Clotty

What Is A Normal Menstrual Flow

The usual length of menstrual bleeding is 4 to 6 days.

The most common amount of menstrual flow measured in a whole period is around two tablespoons , the equivalent of soaking around one to seven normal-sized pads or tampons over the course of one period.

However, the amount of flow is highly variable, often depending on a persons stature, if theyve had children and age.

In most cases, the duration of a cycle will be the same during ones lifetime.

However, it may be influenced by a number of factors such as significant weight changes, dieting, changes in exercise routines, travel, or other disruptions in your daily life.

What Is Considered A Heavy Period Or Menorrhagia

Officially, a flow of more than 80 ml per menstrual period is considered menorrhagia.

Most women bleeding this heavily will have a low blood count or evidence of iron deficiency.

Blood loss can be very hard to measure unless you use a menstrual cup, and even if you lose less than 80 ml, it can still affect your quality of life, so the definition of heavy flow can be adjusted to excessive menstrual blood loss which interferes with a womans physical, social, emotional and/or material quality of life..

How Long Should You Use Progesterone

If you are getting close to actual menopause, you might be concerned that if you used hormones such as progesterone that it will prolong perimenopause or interfere with actual menopause. However, this is not the case. Women can safely use low levels of progesterone to manage symptoms without promoting monthly cycles.

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What Causes Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Heavy menstrual bleeding can have many causes, ranging from hormone-related issues to various medical conditions and even stress.

Hormone imbalances

The hormones that your body produces, like estrogen and progesterone, help regulate your menstrual cycle, including how heavy your periods are. Having a condition that causes your hormones to become imbalanced can lead to heavy period bleeding. Causes include:

• Birth control pills and injectables .

Failing to remove contraceptive devices when needed can also cause abnormal uterine bleeding.

Menstrual Clots And Heavy Periods

The normal menstrual cycle lasts 25 to 32 days. A normal flow lasts between four and seven days and may be accompanied by blood clots. A normal period should normally cause mild to moderate discomfort beginning the first day and then subside.

A period is considered heavy if it soaks through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours or if it lasts for over seven days. Large clots in period blood are also considered signs of heavy periods. Moreover, heavy periods can cause constant pain in the lower abdomen.

Heavy menstrual bleeding can negatively affect a womans quality of life and lead to other conditions such as anemia where the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells that can carry oxygen to different organs and tissues in the body. Anemia can make a person feel weak and tired.

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What Causes Heavy Period With Blood Clots

If you have heavy periods with small blood clots then it could be normal Especially if it occurs in the first 1 or 2 days of your period. During early menstruation, excessive clots not broken down by fibrinolysin, may come out as blood clots. Causes of heavy period with large clots are submucous fibroid, infection or endometrial thickening.

Liking Fibroids And Menstruation

Studies show that fibroids have hormone receptors that allow them to bind to estrogen and progesterone molecules. Both of these hormones fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. Estrogen levels, for example, are highest during the first half of the cycle, when it helps grow the uterine lining in preparation for a fertilized egg.

Progesterone helps balance the effects of estrogen and dominates the second half of menstruation. It is responsible for maintaining the uterine lining if a woman becomes pregnant. Levels drop when pregnancy does not occur, prompting the uterus to shed its lining and menstruation to begin.

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Signs That Your Heavy Bleeding And Clotting Is Too Much

If your period lasts for more than seven days, and for several days in a row, your menstrual flow soaks through more than one pad every hour, then you might have a condition called Menorrhagia. This heavy bleeding makes you need to double up on pads or change your pads or tampons during the night.

Another sign of having Menorrhagia is when you have heavy period with blood clots that are in a size of a quarter or even larger. Menorrhagia will likely to cause constant pain in the lower part of your stomach during your menstrual period. This will make you feel tired, weak and lack of energy and can even hinder you to do things that you usually would still be doing during your period.

Menorrhagia is not a condition that can be taken for granted. Prolonged and untreated heavy bleeding and clotting can cause health problems like Anemia. This blood problem can leave you feeling weak or tired all the time thus stopping you from living your life to the fullest. Hence, if you have been feeling the signs mentioned, you should see a doctor. It is advised that you talk to your doctor openly about the signs you feel in order for your doctor to help you accordingly.

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What Causes Heavy Periods And Abnormal Bleeding

In girls, pregnancy and dysfunctional uterine bleeding are likely to cause abnormal bleeding.

As the age increases, you should also think about IUCD , fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic infection, polyps, hypothyroidism.

In perimenopausal women, consider endometrial carcinoma. General bleeding problems such as von Willebrand’s disease may be the cause as well.

It is an abnormal thing if you have to use 2 or more pads within two 2 hours.

Heavy bleeding can also be related to the following issues:

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding . This is a heavy and/or irregular bleeding in the absence of recognizable pelvic pathology. It is associated with anovulatory menstrual cycles. Anovulation is a medical term for the situation when the ovaries do not release an oocyte during a menstrual cycle. Therefore, ovulation does not take place.

Complications in pregnancy. Heavy periods can be due to a miscarriage and it can also be as a result of an abnormal location of the placenta .

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Why Did My Period Get Heavy All Of A Sudden

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.

You Have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Affecting between 8-20% of women worldwide, PCOS is a condition in which ovulation occurs infrequently, irregularly or not at all resulting in hormonal imbalance, thick uterine lining tissue and you guessed it, wonky periods. Menses might be absent for months at a time, irregular, heavy and lengthy when they do come.

6. You Have An Infection

Any infection of the uterus can cause heavier bleedingyes, this includes STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia. These types of infection cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to infertility. If you have had unprotected sexpenetrative or oraland notice heavier bleeding and pelvic pain its important to get yourself tested and treated if need be.

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For Chronic Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Hormonal medication

• If the woman is not wanting to become pregnant in the near future and there is no distortion of the endometrium on ultrasound then Mirena is the recommended first line treatment.
• If Mirena is not suitable due to contraindication or patient preference:
• first choice is continuing on the oral contraceptive pill as this is protective against endometrial carcinoma
• second choice: progestogens . Starting doses: medroxyprogesterone acetate 10 mg od or norethisterone 5 mg bd. Note this does NOT provide contraception.

Trial for at least 3 full months and preferably 46 months.

Non-hormonal medication:

• Antifibrinolytics: Tranexamic acid 1 g tds for 35 days, and/or
• NSAIDs: Ibuprofen 400mg tds for 34 days.

Heavy Period Symptoms Are

• Changing your pads every 1 or 2 hours during the days
• Waking up many times at night to change your pads
• Trying to double your pads to prevent staining
• Feeling weak after days of very heavy bleeding
• Extremely heavy periods affecting your daily activities or work

If you have any of these symptoms, then your period may be heavy. To understand how much blood you lose during periods, you should monitor your period length and menstrual cycle.

• Record the number of sanitary pads you change day and night. Is it fully soaked with period blood clots?
• Record the length of your menstrual cycle. Is your menstrual cycle getting shorter or longer?Learn how to calculate your menstrual cycle.
• Try to remember the last time you had a normal period flow. If this is the first time, then stressful activities could play a role.

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Some Are Normal But Others Can Be A Sign Of Issues Like Uterine Fibroids

Peter Weiss, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN and expert in women’s health.

• Frequently Asked Questions

For most individuals who menstruate, occasional period blood clots are normal and nothing to be concerned about. That said, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and other conditions can cause blood clots to appear in your period blood too.

One sign of an abnormal blood clot is that it is the size of a quarter or larger.

This article explains what period blood clots are made of, how they form, and signs that they may not be normal and need to be evaluated by a healthcare practitioner.

When Should I See A Doctor For Heavy Periods

Heavy periods arent something that you have to put up with. If your period affects your daily life by causing you to miss work or school, cancel social activities or plan your day around bathroom breaks, its time to seek treatment.

We recommend making an appointment with one of our womens health experts if you experience any of the the symptoms described above. An expert will be able to diagnose whats causing your heavy periods and recommend effective treatments. If youre not sure whether your period is normal, just ask.

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Home Remedies To Stop Prolonged Periods

There are several natural remedies to treat the symptoms of heavy periods. You can try a few to find out which work best for you and your lifestyle.

Applying a heat pad

Period pain and cramps can be relieved by applying a heat pad the warmth helps relax your muscles.

Cooking in a cast-iron pot

To balance out the iron youll be losing during your heavy periods, you can introduce more iron in your diet by cooking in a cast-iron pot. Moist foods will absorb more iron from the pot than dry foods. However, dont overdo it and cook every meal in your cast-iron pot as you could end up with more iron in your diet than you need.

Resting and exercising

Heavy periods can leave you feeling extremely tired so take rest breaks whenever you can. Relaxing exercise can help you deal with the stress of heavy periods.

Using a menstrual cup

Menstrual cups are becoming more popular as an eco-friendly way for women to manage their periods. If you have heavy periods, these silicone cups come with the added bonus of being able to hold more blood than tampons or pads. This means fewer trips to the toilet to change your sanitary product.

Wearing period pants at night

Period pants look the same as normal pants but have an additional absorbent layer. When worn with a sanitary product at night, they can prevent blood seeping through onto your clothes and bed linen.

When To See A Doctor

Everyone who has a monthly menstrual cycle experiences their period differently. Your period might even be different for you every time you have one, varying in how long it lasts, the symptoms that come with it, and how much you bleed.

Prolonged, noticeable changes in your menstruation cycle should be discussed with your doctor. Symptoms to look out for include:

• bruising easily, fatigue, or shortness of breath, all of which can indicate anemia
• increased cramping during your period
• pain or bleeding during or after sex
• clots that appear to grow larger in size as your period progresses
• soaking through pads every hour or soaking through your outer clothing
• watery discharge thats bright red or gray
• heavy period bleeding that increases or continues after 7 days

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What Determines The Consistency Of Your Period

Stringy period blood typically isnt a cause for concern. In most cases, a stringy or gel-like consistency is just a blood clot leaving your uterus. Blood clots that are small are normal.

Remember that your period refers to the first days of each menstrual cycle, when the lining of your uterus is discarded by your body. Period blood is a mixture of this discarded uterine lining, blood, and vaginal fluid.

The first day or two of your period tend to be the heaviest days of bleeding. These are also the days that youll most likely notice varying consistencies in the blood your body is releasing.

Youre Taking Blood Thinners

Have you ever gone to get your ear pierced and forgotten to mention to the piercer that you took some Advil for pain? You probably encountered a LOT more blood than they were banking on.

It doesnt always clickand we arent always warnedof all the ways that new medication will impact our bodies, so you may have not realized that anticoagulants such as coumadin will indeed cause a heavier period than normal.

Anticoagulants and other anti-inflammatories prevent clots so that blood can flow more easily through your body which includes, you guessed ityour period.

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Treatment For Abnormal Period Blood Clots

Treatment for abnormal period blood clots may include iron supplements, contraception and other medications, andin some casessurgery.

Your treatment will depend on a number of factors, including:

• What’s causing your large blood clots and/or heavy bleeding
• How severe the clots and bleeding are
• Whether or not other painful symptoms accompany your period
• Your age and plans for reproduction

Cancer Malignancy And Hyperplasia

Some women may develop an abnormally thick lining of the inside surface of their uterus. This condition is called endometrial hyperplasia and it may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, irregular bleeding or a bloodstained vaginal discharge. In some cases, endometrial hyperplasia may progress to endometrial cancer, a condition that is more common after menopause but can occur in younger women.

Women are at an increased risk of developing endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer if they:

• are over the age of 45 years
• are over 90 kg in weight
• have never had children
• have a family history of endometrial, ovarian or bowel cancer
• have polycystic ovarian syndrome
• carry a gene that increases their cancer risk .

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Iron Deficiency And Anaemia

If you have heavy periods each month, one of the key things to watch out for is iron deficiency. One of the most common causes of iron deficiency is prolonged or heavy periods. This can leave you feeling tired and lacking energy. In some cases, this can even lead to anaemia.

Ask your doctor or nurse if you need a blood test to check your ferritin and full blood count. If your results indicate your iron is low, you may need to also take iron supplements.

Treatment Of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

At Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, adolescent medicine specialists are able to manage the majority of cases of heavy menstrual bleeding. However, if necessary, a coordinated approach may be used with specialists from gynecology, hematology, radiology and endocrinology and others to accurately diagnose and treat patients with heavy menstrual bleeding.

Treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding will be recommended by your adolescents physician based on:

• Your adolescents age, overall health and medical history
• Cause and severity of the condition
• Your adolescents tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies
• Your adolescents future childbearing plans
• Effects of the condition on your adolescents lifestyle
• Your adolescents opinion or preference

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How Are Heavy Periods Treated

There are several options available to treat heavy periods. Your doctor will recommend options that are right for you based on your age, your medical history and whether you would like to be pregnant in the future.

Some medicines may lighten blood loss. These include anti-inflammatory medicines, tranexamic acid and the oral contraceptive pill . A hormonal intrauterine device placed in the uterus may also lighten bleeding.

Sometimes heavy periods are treated with surgery, for example to remove a fibroid or to reduce the lining of the uterus. The uterus can be removed in an operation known as a hysterectomy.

Is My Period Bleeding Heavy

Heavy period bleeding is common. This doesnât mean you should just live with it, because it can have negative impacts on your health. That is why healthcare providers call it âabnormal uterine bleedingâ . Heavy bleeding includes any of the following :

• Soaking one or more tampons or pads in an hour for two or more hours

• Clots larger than a quarter

• Vaginal bleeding lasting longer than 7 days

• Needing to change pad/tampon/cup during the night

• Needing to wear more than one pad at a time

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