“Heavy menstrual bleeding affects about one in five women and is a common problem in
the 30-50-year-old age group”.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:
“Heavy menstrual bleeding (also known as menorrhagia) is excessive and/or prolonged menstrual bleeding. The amount varies from woman to woman and can change at different stages in your life; for example, in teenage years or approaching menopause. It is defined as blood loss greater than 80ml (equal to one-third of a cup) per cycle, or periods lasting more than seven to eight days”.2
Menorrhagia
What is menorrhagia?
DotS the definition of menorrhagia may vary. The (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:
“Menorrhagia is the medical term for menstrual periods with abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding. Although heavy menstrual bleeding is a common concern, most women don’t experience blood loss severe enough to be defined as menorrhagia”.3
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”.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 Bleeding: How Do You Know If Your Bleeding Is Too Heavy? the JH note:
- Bleeding or ‘flooding’ not contained within a pad/tampon (especially when wearing the largest size)
- Changing a pad/tampon every hour or less
- Changing a pad overnight
- Clots greater than a 50-cent piece in size
- Bleeding for more than seven to eight days”.6
Cause
What causes heavy menstrual bleeding?
In Heavy Periods: Overview – 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:
“Heavy menstrual bleeding affects about one in five women and is a common problem in the 30-50-year-old age group”.9
Perimenopause
Is there an association between perimenopause and heavy bleeding?
In Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Complications the Mayo Clinic explain:
- Bleeding is extremely heavy — you’re changing tampons or pads every hour or two for two or more hours
- Bleeding lasts longer than seven days
- Bleeding occurs between periods
- Periods regularly occur less than 21 days apart.
Signs such as these may mean there’s a problem with your reproductive system that requires diagnosis and treatment”.10
Treatment
What are treatment options for heavy menstrual bleeding?
In Heavy Periods: Treatment the (British) Women’s Health Concern:
“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”.11
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. For example, some women do not want to have a period, some want to know when they can usually expect to have their period, and some want just to reduce the amount of bleeding. Some women want to make sure they can still have children in the future. Others want to lessen the pain more than they want to reduce the amount of bleeding. Some treatments are ongoing and others are done one time. You should discuss all of your options with your doctor to decide which is best for you”.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. The Mayo Clinic explain:
The Mayo Clinic also note:
- Vaginal bleeding so heavy it soaks at least one pad or tampon an hour for more than two hours
- Bleeding between periods or irregular vaginal bleeding
- Any vaginal bleeding after menopause”.14
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Periods and Heavy Bleeding?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Periods and Heavy Bleeding?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
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.- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
- About the Menstrual Cycle
- About the Menstrual Cycle [Video]
- About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor
- Adenomyosis
- Adenomyosis and Heavy Bleeding
- Betteryouknow.org [Better You Know, United States]
- Bleeding Disorders
- Bleeding Disorders A-Z
- Bleeding Disorders In Women
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Better You Know Campaign
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Do You Have Heavy Periods?
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Signs: Chart
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: What Are Bleeding Disorders In Women?
- Blood Clots During Menstruation: A Concern?
- Dilation and Curettage
- Dilation and Curettage (D&C)
- Dysmenorrhea: Painful Periods
- Endometrial Ablation
- Endometrial Ablation
- Endometrial Ablation
- Endometriosis
- Endometriosis
- Everything You Should Know About Menometrorrhagia
- Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month [September, United States]
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- Heavy Periods: How Much Is Heavy Bleeding? Heavy Periods Self-Assessment
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- Hemophilia.org [National Hemophilia Foundation, United States]
- Home Remedies: Managing Menstrual Cramps
- How Does the Mirena Coil Affect Menopause?
- Mayo Clinic Q and A: Consider Potential Risks Associated With Endometrial Ablation
- Menopause
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Diagnosis and Tests
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Symptoms and Causes
- Menstrual Calendar
- Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
- Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
- Menstrual Cycle
- 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
- My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
- PMS, PMDD and You
- Perimenopause: How do I know if changes in my periods are normal perimenopausal symptoms or something to be concerned about?
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause – Fact Sheet
- Period Pain & Symptom Diary
- Period Problems: Heavy Bleeding
- Periods
- Periods
- Periods – Fact Sheet
- Periods – Menstrual Cycle: Animation [Video]
- Periods: Period Problems
- Resources / Periods: Heavy Periods: What You Need To Know [Video]
- Tips for Tracking Bleeding
- Tricky Periods: What’s ‘Normal’ and What’s Not
- Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Victoryforwomen.org [Victory For Women, National Hemophilia Foundation Health Initiative]
- Videos About Bleeding Disorders In Women [+ Video: Bleeds Don’t Define Me]
- Video Series-2022: Irregular Menstrual Cycles What’s Normal and What’s Abnormal?
- Von Willebrand Disease
Von Willebrand Disease (VWD)
- Wednesday Webinar: New Guidelines for VWD: Patient Perspective
- What Causes Bleeding Between Periods?
- Women and Bleeding Disorders
- Women’s Wellness: Abnormal Menstruation Happens In A Variety of Ways
- World Menopause Day 2017: Patient Information Leaflet – Changes Before the Change [Perimenopausal Bleeding] [+ Multiply Languages]
- Yarning About Periods (Menstrual Cycle)
- Your Menstrual Cycle and Your Health
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Heavy Bleeding: What Is Heavy Bleeding? Last Updated: 18 August 2021 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/heavy-bleeding Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Heavy Bleeding: What Is Heavy Bleeding? Last Updated: 18 August 2021 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/heavy-bleeding Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 01 July 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. Page Last Reviewed: 20 December 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/menorrhagia.html Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. Page Last Reviewed: 20 December 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/menorrhagia.html Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Heavy Bleeding: How Do You Know If Your Bleeding Is Too Heavy? Last Updated: 18 August 2021 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/heavy-bleeding Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Heavy Periods: Overview – Causes of Heavy Periods? Page Last Reviewed: 03 November 2021. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods/#what-causes-heavy-periods Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Symptoms & Causes – Causes. 01 July 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Heavy Bleeding: What Is Heavy Bleeding? Last Updated: 18 August 2021 | Last Reviewed: 10 July 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/periods/heavy-bleeding Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Perimenopause: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 07 August 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/perimenopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20354666 Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Treatment. Page Last Reviewed: 20 December 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/menorrhagia.html Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Heavy Bleeding: Treatment. Reviewed: November 2019. British Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/heavy-periods/ Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 01 July 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 26 February 2022
- Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Symptoms & Causes – Symptoms: When To See A Doctor. 01 July 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 26 February 2022