Estimating The Volume Of Your Period
It is difficult to figure out how much menstrual fluid leaves your body every cycle. If you use a menstrual cup, these often have volume measurements indicated on the side of the menstrual cup to help you estimate how much fluid you have lost.
In general, the amount of fluid lost can be estimated when using pads or tampons, depending on the size and soaking amount of the menstrual product. A fully saturated light tampon can hold up to 3 mL of fluid, while a fully saturated super tampon may hold up to 12 mL . A regular daytime fully soaked pad may hold around 5 ml of fluid, and fully soaked overnight pad may hold 10-15 mL .
If you are repeatedly soaking through a tampon or pad every two hours, this is considered heavy menstrual bleeding and should be brought to your healthcare providerâs attention.
The Shot And The Implant
Methods like the contraceptive injection and the implant suppress ovulation . Most people who donât ovulate due to these progestin-only contraceptives experience shorter, lighter, or occasionally absent bleeding days, though this doesnât always happen .
Unpredictable bleeding, spotting, and prolonged bleeding are common when using these methods, especially during the first few months . These symptoms usually improve with time, but they can continue for some people.
How To Get Rid Of Heavy Period Medically
Mefenamic acid
This drug is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that reduces blood loss during period to 25 percent. It is however not advised if you have asthma or a duodenal ulcer.
Tranexamic Acid
This drug is used only when you experience extremely heavy periods. It can reduce excessive bleeding during period by 50 percent in women.
Combined oral contraceptives pills
This has been very useful in treating heavy periods in women. It also helps as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy. However, it is not suitable for smoking women or women above 35 years. There is also a risk of venous thrombo-embolism. If you are overweight, then this may not be the best solution to your heavy bleeding due to additional weight gain.
Hormonal intrauterine system
Use of levonorgestrel IUDs reduces bleeding to about 95 percent in women. Though it can cause breakthrough bleeding during the first 9 months, it is reduces blood loss and painful periods in women.
Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist
This drugs act on the pituitary to reduce or stop production of estrogen. Decreased estrogen will cause absent periods. However, these drugs are not used for long term. If used for more than 6 months, it causes hot-flushes, irregular periods, sweating and osteoporosis.
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How Is Placenta Previa Diagnosed
Usually, the first signs of placenta previa will show up during the routine 20-week ultrasound. These initial signs are not necessarily a cause for worry, since the placenta is often lower in the uterus during the early part of a pregnancy.
The placenta usually corrects itself. According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, only 10 percent of people with low-lying placenta at 20 weeks will have a low-lying placenta at their next ultrasound. Only .5 percent will have placenta previa at the end of their pregnancy.
If you experience any bleeding in the second half of your pregnancy, doctors will monitor the position of the placenta using one of these preferred methods:
- Transvaginal ultrasound. Your doctor places a probe inside the vagina to provide an inside view of your vaginal canal and cervix. This is the preferred and most accurate method for determining placenta previa.
- Transabdominal ultrasound. A healthcare technician places gel on your abdomen and moves a handheld unit called a transducer around your abdomen to view the pelvic organs. The sound waves make a picture on a TV-like screen.
- MRI . This imaging scan will help clearly determine the placentas location.
Doctors will decide how to treat your placenta previa based on:
- the amount of bleeding
- the month of your pregnancy
- the babys health
- the position of the placenta and the baby
The amount of bleeding is a doctors main consideration when deciding how to treat the condition.
When Should You Call Your Doc About Long Periods
If your period lasts longer than seven days, or if it suddenly changes significantly in length for three or more cycles in a row, that warrants a call to your ob-gyn, says Tom Toth, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Boston IVF. It’s also worth seeing your doc if you’re soaking a pad or tampon every hour for several hours or passing clots.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re dealing with something serious, but you want to get to the root of your period problem sooner rather than later. That’s because once you’re north of seven days and still bleeding, you’re at an increased risk for menorrhagia.
Simply put, menorrhagia is when bleeding is too heavy and interferes with your quality of life or requires interventions like blood transfusions, iron transfusions, medications or surgical procedures, Dr. Shepherd explains. Menorrhagia can also lead to other issues, like anemia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Anemia can cause you to experience fatigue, weakness, and, in severe cases, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Taking iron supplements can help improve symptoms, but you need to see your doc to get an the cause of the heavy bleeding.
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Treating Heavy Periods In Blood Disorders
Treatment for blood disorders varies depending on the type and severity of the disorder. In some cases, women take iron supplementation to replenish the iron in their body lost from excessive bleeding in others, women may receive intravenous iron or a blood transfusion in which they receive blood from a donor to replace lost blood.
If we find that a hormonal imbalance is causing a patients heavy periods, hormones often are effective. The most common types include:
- Birth control pills
- Intrauterine device , a small, T-shaped plastic device inserted into the uterus
- Birth control ring , a tiny, flexible ring thats inserted into the cervix
When we diagnose a young woman with a blood disorder, we have other tricks up our sleeves to control her periods better, such as allowing her to have a period only four times a year using hormones to prevent anemia or using non-hormonal options for additional protection. We also work with dentists and surgeons to make plans for dental procedures and surgeries so patients do not experience unnecessary bleeding.
Additionally, some women with heavy periods receive psychiatric care because mental health problems such as anxiety and depression can arise while experiencing symptoms. In this case, a hematologist, Ob/Gyn, or adolescent doctor will refer patients to a psychologist or psychiatrist.
To find out whether you or a loved one might benefit from the Young Womens Blood Disorders Program, call or request an appointment online.
When Is A Period Heavy
Though the degree of menstrual bleeding differs from woman to woman, a period can be considered heavy when the following symptoms occur:
- At least one sanitary towel or tampon is soaked through each hour
- A pad and a tampon is used at the same time
- Waking up in the night to change sanitary product
- Bleeding for more than a week
- Large blood clots
- Normal day-to-day activities are affected
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What Causes A Long Period 11 Possibilities
There are many conditions that may contribute to a long period. These may include the following developments:
Beyond that, extreme exercise and weight loss, breastfeeding, Premature ovarian failure and Polycystic ovary syndrome may be linked to shorter or missed menstruation rather than long periods. If you believe you’re at risk for any of these conditions, please speak with your medical professional.
Additionally, it is extremely important that someone who may be suffering from heavy periods or discharging a large amount of blood/blood clots see their doctor. Fever and lightheadedness are also symptoms that may accompany abnormally heavy or long periods.
What Is Prolonged Period
Women period is due to endometrial shredding that occurs during your menstrual cycle. It occurs due to the interplay of many hormones like estrogen and progesterone.
If your period lasts between two and seven days, then its normal. Women can have periods that last for three days or longer periods that last up to six to seven days. This is normal.
However, any menstrual blood flow more than seven days is considered abnormal.
Period blood flow more than seven days is prolonged and requires urgent treatment. Long periods, in women of reproductive age, can prevent pregnancy or cause infertility.
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No Matter Which Period Problems Are Affecting You You Dont Have To Suffer In Silence
You have no reason to feel embarrassed about your periodor the many period problems that can come with it. Talk of menstrual cycle problems is becoming so much more common because, hey, sometimes theyre just the lot were dealt as people with vaginas. Celebrities are out here talking about menstruation) problems, too! Some pad commercials evengaspuse red blood, these days! What a time to be alive.
If youre having period problems, see your doctor for help. If they arent committed to relieving your symptoms, thats a sign you should try to find a more sympathetic medical professional who can help you find the best treatment.
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How Are Heavy Periods Treated
The choice of treatment will depend on the cause of your bleeding. If a reason for the heavy bleeding is found, such as a fibroid, this will be treated.
However, sometimes no cause for heavy periods can be found. In these cases, heavy periods can be treated by medicines or by surgery, with the aim of decreasing the amount of bleeding. Some treatments may stop your periods completely and others may affect your fertility.Considerations for treatment include your age, general health, whether you require contraception or want to have children. Some treatments are ongoing and others are done one time.
Discuss all your options with your doctor to decide which is best for you.
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Youre Actually Pregnant And Have Placenta Previa
This type of heavy vaginal bleeding is actually unrelated to a period, though you might think it is one if you don’t yet know you’re pregnant. Placenta previa is a condition that happens during pregnancy where the placenta covers the cervix, explains Dr. Horton.
Patients will usually have heavy vaginal bleeding throughout their pregnancy and will need to deliver their baby by C-section. Take a pregnancy test and see your doctor to figure out the best treatment method.
Why Is My Period So Heavy
Heavy periods have a wide range of causes, most commonly, theyre due to hormone imbalances, particularly high estrogen levels or not ovulating, but they can be due to a variety of underlying causes from PCOS to an uncommon but not completely rare genetic bleeding disorder that can cause heavy periods .
You can read about the causes below and see if you can identify whether any of these sound similar to what youre experiencing in addition to your heavy flow. The underlying cause will help you to find the best strategy for reducing your heavy flow once and for all. Depending on the cause, self-care strategies may be all you need or you may need to pay a visit to your favorite medical provider to help you sort out a diagnosis and the next best steps.
Lets start with the most common causes of heavy periods and then Ill walk you through what you can do both natural options and some conventional medical ones, too. Then you can decide whats best for you!
High Estrogen Levels
Estrogen is a marvelous hormone. At the right levels it plays a central role in our reproductive, brain, bone, and heart health. During the first half of each menstrual cycle, called the proliferative phase, your uterine lining naturally builds up under the influence of estrogen. This lining is then shed with each menstrual cycle, leading to our menstrual flow. Heavy periods can be a sign that this layer has been building up too thickly as a result of estrogen levels that might be too high.
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What Is The Normal Duration For A Menstrual Period
Women vary greatly in the range of their cycles. This includes how long they go between periods .
It also includes how long a period lasts. Generally, a period should last six days or less and start heavier and get lighter. But every woman is different, Dr. Thielen says.
Whats more important is whether the length of your period has changed, she stresses. If you regularly bleed for eight or nine days, thats not concerning. But if you previously had a five-day flow and now youre going eight or nine, that should be evaluated, she says. Even women in perimenopause, whose periods may be all over the place, are wise to get examined.
Depending on the circumstances, long menstruation might be a mild condition that can be easily controlled, or one that indicates a more serious underlying health issue.
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Uterine Polyps Or Fibroids
SAGE Open Medicine , uterine polyps often have no symptoms. However, they can cause health issues, such as heavy bleeding and infertility.
In some cases, uterine polyps become cancerous, so it is important to see a doctor. Treatment for uterine polyps may involve:
- watchful waiting to assess whether they pose a risk of becoming malignant
- hormone therapy
- surgical options, such as a hysteroscopic polypectomy
Fibroids are noncancerous growths in or around the uterine lining. According to the , people may not always experience symptoms. In those who do, the symptoms can be hard to live with and may include:
- heavy bleeding
- a feeling of fullness in the abdomen
- frequent urination
Treatment options typically include medications, such as birth control, or surgery to remove the fibroids.
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Q: Are Menstrual Clots During Heavy Periods Normal
A. If you notice on heavy days of your period that blood seems extra-thick, and can sometimes form a jelly-like glob, these are menstrual clots, a mix of blood and tissue released from your uterus during your period.
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They can vary in size and color, and usually, they are nothing to worry about.
Most of the time, menstrual clots are normal, but some symptoms can signal other health concerns.
The color of a menstrual clot, which can range from bright to deeper red, doesnt matter as much as the size. If youre noticing menstrual clots larger than a quarter, especially if you are soaking pads every hour, talk to your health practitioner.
The clotting is the bodys way of protecting us, but if it happening frequently, you need to pay attention.
Watch for these other symptoms if you experience heavy flow and menstrual clots:
- Significant pain
- Accidents on clothing and sheets
- Clots increasing in size
Commonly, the cause of heavy bleeding is structural or hormonal.
Possible causes include fibroids, polyps, ovaries failing to release eggs, bleeding disorders, thyroid disorders, or, more rarely, uterine, cervical or endometrial cancer.
Treatment depends on the cause surgery may be needed if the problem is structural, while ibuprofen can help reduce bleeding and pain. Hormones may be helpful as well.