Periods and Heavy Bleeding

“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:

“It is very difficult to determine whether your bleeding is too heavy. The best guide is to decide whether your period is having an impact on your quality of life – if it is causing you to be housebound, interrupting your daily activities, or causing you stress and anxiety. The following signs might indicate you are experiencing heavy bleeding:

  • 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:

“It can be normal to have heavy periods.

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:

“In some cases, the cause of heavy menstrual bleeding is unknown, but a number of conditions may cause menorrhagia. Common causes include:

  • 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:

Periods and Heavy Bleeding
“Heavy menstrual bleeding affects about one in five women and is a common problem in the 30-50-year-old age group”.9

Treatment

What are types of treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding?

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”.10

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:

“If you dread your period because you have such heavy menstrual bleeding, talk with your doctor. There are many effective treatments for menorrhagia”.11

The Mayo Clinic also note:

“Seek medical help before your next scheduled exam if you experience:

  • 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”.12

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Periods and Heavy Bleeding?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Links

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  1. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
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  3. About the Menstrual Cycle
  4. About the Menstrual Cycle [Video]
  5. About the Menstrual Cycle: When To See Your Doctor
  6. Adenomyosis
  7. Adenomyosis and Heavy Bleeding
  8. Betteryouknow.org [Better You Know, United States]
  9. Bleeding Disorders
  10. Bleeding Disorders A-Z
  11. Bleeding Disorders In Women
  12. Bleeding Disorders In Women
  13. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Better You Know CampaignPeriods and Heavy Bleeding
  14. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Do You Have Heavy Periods? Periods and Heavy Bleeding
  15. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  16. Bleeding Disorders In Women: Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Signs: Chart
  17. Bleeding Disorders In Women: What Are Bleeding Disorders In Women?
  18. Blood Clots During Menstruation: A Concern?
  19. Dilation and Curettage
  20. Dilation and Curettage (D&C)
  21. Dysmenorrhea: Painful Periods
  22. Endometrial Ablation
  23. Endometrial Ablation
  24. Endometrial Ablation
  25. Endometriosis
  26. Endometriosis
  27. Everything You Should Know About Menometrorrhagia
  28. Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month [September, United States]
  29. Heavy Bleeding [+ Video]
  30. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
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  32. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
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  34. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – Fact Sheet
  35. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: What Women Need To Know – Podcast
  36. Heavy Periods
  37. Heavy Periods Video In 6 Languages
  38. Heavy Periods: Can Folic Acid Help?
  39. Heavy Periods: How Much Is Heavy Bleeding? Heavy Periods Self-Assessment
  40. Help for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  41. Hemophilia.org [National Hemophilia Foundation, United States]
  42. Home Remedies: Managing Menstrual Cramps
  43. How Does the Mirena Coil Affect Menopause?
  44. Know Your Normal Get Abnormal Bleeding Checked Know Your Normal
  45. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Consider Potential Risks Associated With Endometrial Ablation
  46. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
  47. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding)
  48. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Diagnosis and Tests
  49. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Symptoms and Causes
  50. Menstrual Calendar
  51. Menstrual Calendar: Calendario Menstrual [Spanish]
  52. Menstrual Calendar: Calendrier Menstruel [French]
  53. Menstrual Cycle
  54. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not
  55. Menstrual Cycle: What’s Normal, What’s Not – How Can I Track My Menstrual Cycle?
  56. Menstrual Diary
  57. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  58. PMS, PMDD and You
  59. Perimenopause – Fact Sheet
  60. Period Pain & Symptom Diary
  61. Period Problems: Heavy Bleeding
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  64. Periods – Fact Sheet
  65. Periods – Menstrual Cycle: Animation [Video]
  66. Periods: Period Problems
  67. Resources / Periods: Heavy Periods: What You Need To Know [Video]
  68. Tips for Tracking Bleeding
  69. Tricky Periods: What’s ‘Normal’ and What’s Not
  70. Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
  71. Vaginal Bleeding
  72. Vaginal Bleeding
  73. Victoryforwomen.org [Victory For Women, National Hemophilia Foundation Health Initiative]
  74. Videos About Bleeding Disorders In Women [+ Video: Bleeds Don’t Define Me]
  75. Von Willebrand Disease
  76. Von Willebrand Disease (VWD)
  77. Wednesday Webinar: New Guidelines for VWD: Patient Perspective
  78. What Causes Bleeding Between Periods?
  79. Women and Bleeding Disorders
  80. Women’s Wellness: Abnormal Menstruation Happens In A Variety of Ways
  81. World Menopause Day 2017: Patient Information Leaflet – Changes Before the Change [Perimenopausal Bleeding] [+ Multiply Languages]
  82. Yarning About Periods (Menstrual Cycle)
  83. Your Menstrual Cycle and Your Health

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. 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: 15 December 2021
  2. 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: 15 December 2021
  3. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 01 July 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 15 December 2021
  4. 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: 15 December 2021
  5. 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: 15 December 2021
  6. 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: 15 December 2021
  7. 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: 15 December 2021
  8. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Symptoms & Causes – Causes. 01 July 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed: 15 December 2021
  9. 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: 15 December 2021
  10. 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: 15 December 2021
  11. Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding): Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 01 July 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menorrhagia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352829 Accessed:  15 December 2021
  12. 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: 15 December 2021

Topic Last Updated: 15 December 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 15 December 2021
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