Heavy menstrual bleeding
Overview
Heavy menstrual bleeding is a condition where women experience abnormally heavy or prolonged menstrual periods that interfere with daily activities. This symptom involves bleeding that lasts longer than seven days or requires changing pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours.
Common Causes
Heavy menstrual bleeding can result from hormonal imbalances, particularly involving estrogen and progesterone levels that regulate your menstrual cycle. Common lifestyle factors include high stress levels, significant weight changes, and excessive exercise, which can all disrupt your body's natural hormone production. Certain medications, especially blood thinners, and underlying conditions like thyroid disorders or polycystic ovary syndrome may also contribute to heavier than normal periods.
Severity Levels
Mild: Your periods are heavier than usual but manageable with regular menstrual products, though you may need to change them more frequently than before.
Moderate: You're changing pads or tampons every 2-3 hours consistently, your periods last longer than a week, or daily activities are becoming difficult to manage during your cycle.
Severe: You need to change protection every hour for several hours in a row, use double protection, wake up at night to change products, or avoid activities due to fear of flooding through.
Medical Attention
Contact your healthcare provider if you need to change pads or tampons every hour for several hours in a row, or if your period lasts longer than seven days. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe cramping, dizziness, fatigue, or if heavy bleeding is accompanied by large clots. It's also important to consult a doctor if heavy periods are interfering with your daily activities or if you notice a sudden change in your normal menstrual pattern.
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