Managing Heavy Periods: What You Need to Know
Around 20% of American women experience heavy periods. If your menstrual bleeding is so heavy and painful that it disrupts your life, contact us for expert doctor at FirstChoice OB-GYN. Our compassionate doctor diagnose the cause of your heavy bleeding and provide treatments to improve your reproductive health and reduce your bleeding. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
Heavy Periods Q & A
What is a heavy period?
Every woman has a unique menstrual flow, and some have naturally heavier periods than others. However, your period may be considered abnormally heavy if you:
- Have to change your tampon or pad every hour for several consecutive hours
- Need to get up in the night to replace your sanitary product
- Need to use a tampon and a pad simultaneously
- Pass blood clots larger than a quarter
- Bleed through your clothing
- Have a period that lasts longer than a week
Menorrhagia is the clinical term for an abnormally heavy period. If you have menorrhagia, your periods severely disrupt your life, causing you to miss work or school every month due to blood loss and heavy cramping. Women experiencing bleeding between periods or after menopause should also seek evaluation.
What causes heavy periods?
Several conditions and factors can cause abnormally heavy periods, including:
- Hormonal issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance, and thyroid problems
- Dysfunctional ovaries that don’t release an egg each month
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Uterine polyps
- Intrauterine devices (IUD)
- Uterine and cervical cancer
- Pregnancy complications
Additionally, being overweight or obese, pelvic infections, and pelvic inflammatory disease can contribute to heavy periods.
What are the treatments for heavy periods?
Treatments for heavy periods depend on the underlying cause. Your doctor may prescribe birth control pills or hormone therapy to regulate estrogen and progesterone levels. An iron supplement might be recommended during your period to prevent fatigue and other anemia symptoms.
If fibroids or polyps are present, a minimally invasive procedure may be suggested to remove them. If other treatments are not effective, endometrial ablation might be recommended to reduce or eliminate heavy periods.
Your period shouldn’t significantly disrupt your life. If bleeding and cramping prevent you from completing your regular activities and responsibilities, schedule an appointment at FirstChoice OB-GYN by calling the practice or booking online.
