“A heavy period is when you lose lots of blood each period.
The amount of bleeding can change
at different life stages”.1
Umbrella
What may the Periods and Heavy Bleeding Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
- Heavy Bleeding
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Heavy Periods
- Heavy Uterine Bleeding
- Menorrhagia
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
What is heavy menstrual bleeding?
DotS the definition of heavy menstrual bleeding may vary. The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health’s (JH) definition is:
“A heavy period is when you lose lots of blood each period. The amount of bleeding can change at different life stages. For example, in teenage years or before menopause (your last period). Heavy periods are common in women aged 30 to 50”.2
Menorrhagia
What is menorrhagia?
DotS the definition of menorrhagia may vary. The (United States) Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) definition is:
“Menorrhagia is menstrual bleeding that lasts more than 7 days. It can also be bleeding that is very heavy”.3
The (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:
“Some women have menstrual bleeding that is heavy or lasts for more than a few days. This condition used to be called menorrhagia. Heavy menstrual bleeding is a common concern. But most women don’t have enough blood loss for it to be called heavy menstrual bleeding”.4
Heavy or Not
How heavy is heavy menstrual bleeding?
In Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding the CDC explain:
“How do you know if you have heavy bleeding? 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”.5
In Heavy Periods: How Do You Know If You Have Heavy Periods? the JH note:
- Your bleeding can’t be contained with a pad or tampon
- You need to change your pad or tampon every two hours or less
- You need to change your pad overnight
- You notice blood clots that are bigger than a 50-cent coin
- Your period lasts more than seven to eight days
- Your periods stop you from doing things you normally do”.6
Cause
What causes heavy menstrual bleeding?
In Heavy Periods: Causes of Heavy Periods the (United Kingdom) NHS elaborate on:
They can sometimes be heavy at different times, like when you first start your periods, after pregnancy or during menopause.
Sometimes, they can be caused by:
- Conditions affecting your womb, ovaries or hormones, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, fibroids, endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease
- Some medicines and treatments, including some anticoagulant medicines and chemotherapy medicines
- Stress and depression
Rarely, heavy periods can be a sign of womb cancer”.7
In Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Symptoms & Causes – Causes the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
- Hormone imbalance…
- Dysfunction of the ovaries…
- Uterine fibroids…
- Polyps…
- Adenomyosis…
- Intrauterine device (IUD)…
- Pregnancy complications…
- Cancer…
- Inherited bleeding disorders…
- Medications…
- Other medical conditions…”.8
Common or Not
How common is heavy menstrual bleeding?
According to the JH:
“About one in four women have heavy periods (heavy menstrual bleeding)”.9
Treatment
What are treatment options for heavy menstrual bleeding?
On page two in Heavy Periods: Treatment the (British) Women’s Health Concern elaborate on:
“Treatment options depend on the type and duration of abnormal bleeding, the presence of specific disease or condition, your age, and desire for further pregnancies. Treatment can be medical or surgical”.10
In Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Treatment the CDC elaborate on different types of treatment and note:
“The type of treatment you get will depend on the cause of your bleeding and how serious it is. Your doctor also will look at things such as your age, general health, and medical history; how well you respond to certain medicines, procedures, or therapies; and your wants and needs”.11
Look for A Pattern
Can it be helpful to record period dates and symptoms?
In Heavy Periods the (Scottish) NHS Inform explain:
If you’re seeing your doctor, there are some useful pieces of information to think about beforehand:
- The first day of your last period (when it started)
- How many days your period usually lasts
- What was the shortest time between your periods (from the first day of one period to the first day of the next)
- What was the longest time between your periods (from the first day of one period to the first day of the next)
- How often you need to change your period products on a heavy day
- If you are over 25, when you had your last smear test”.12
Health Care Provider
What if I have heavy menstrual bleeding?
If you have heavy menstrual bleeding, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. In Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia): Living With – When Do You Call Your Healthcare Provider If You Suspect Heavy Period Bleeding? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic explain:
You should also schedule an appointment if you notice that you’re having to double-up on menstrual products or if you’re skipping activities you enjoy because of heavy bleeding”.13
The Mayo Clinic also note:
- Vaginal bleeding so heavy it soaks at least one pad or tampon an hour for more than two hours in a row
- Bleeding between periods or irregular vaginal bleeding
- Vaginal bleeding after menopause”.14
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Periods and Heavy Bleeding?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
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Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
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- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
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Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
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- Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
- Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
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- Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not
- Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
- Menstrual Diary
- Menstrual Hygiene Day [28 May]
- My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
- Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
- PMS, PMDD and You
- Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
- Perimenopause
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- Uterine Cancer Awareness
- Uterine/Endometrial Cancer/GTD
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Victoryforwomen.org [Victory For Women, National Bleeding Disorders Foundation]
- Video Series-2022: Irregular Menstrual Cycles What’s Normal and What’s Abnormal?
- Video Series-2023
- Videos About Bleeding Disorders In Women [+ Video: Bleeds Don’t Define Me]
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Menopause and Abnormal Bleeding
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- Von Willebrand Disease (VWD)
- Webinars: Previous – Pay Attention on Your Way In! The Vulva Is An Important Organ Too
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- Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
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Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Heavy Periods. Updated: May 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/heavy-periods Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Heavy Periods. Updated: May 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/heavy-periods Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. Last Reviewed: 23 June 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/menorrhagia.html Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 30 August 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. Last Reviewed: 23 June 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/menorrhagia.html Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Heavy Periods: How Do You Know If You Have Heavy Periods? Updated: May 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/heavy-periods Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Heavy Periods: Causes of Heavy Periods. Page Last Reviewed: 03 November 2021. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods/#what-causes-heavy-periods Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Symptoms & Causes – Causes. 30 August 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Heavy Periods. Updated: May 2023. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/heavy-periods Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Heavy Bleeding: Treatment. Publication Date: November 2022:2. British Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/heavy-periods/ Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Treatment. Last Reviewed: 23 June 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/menorrhagia.html Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Heavy Periods. Last Updated: 14 March 2023. NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/girls-and-young-women-puberty-to-around-25/periods-and-menstrual-health/heavy-periods/ Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia): Living With – When Do You Call Your Healthcare Provider If You Suspect Heavy Period Bleeding? Last Reviewed: 11 November 2021. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17734-menorrhagia-heavy-menstrual-bleeding Accessed: 03 December 2023
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor. 25 June 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 03 December 2023