Heavy Periods

Many women have heavy periods - this is also called having very heavy monthly bleeding. For some people, heavy periods are completely normal. But if they're making your daily life difficult, there are treatments that can help.

How do you know if your periods are heavy?

You might have heavy periods if:

• You need to change your pad or tampon every 1-2 hours
• You need to empty your menstrual cup more often than the instructions say
• You have to use two period products at once (like a pad and tampon together)
• Your periods last more than 7 days
• You pass blood clots bigger than a 10p coin
• Blood leaks through onto your clothes or bedding
• You avoid exercise or take time off work because of your periods
• You feel very tired or out of breath a lot

What causes heavy periods?

Heavy periods can be completely normal for you. They might be heavier at certain times in your life, such as:

• When you first start having periods as a teenager
• After having a baby
• As you get closer to menopause (when periods stop for good)

Sometimes heavy periods happen because of:

• Problems with your womb or ovaries, like cysts on your ovaries, growths in your womb called fibroids, or a condition where the lining of your womb grows in the wrong places
• Conditions that make you bleed more easily
• Some medicines, including blood-thinning medicines and cancer treatments

Very rarely, heavy periods can be a sign of cancer of the womb.

When should you speak to your GP?

You should see your GP if:

• Heavy periods are making your life difficult
• You've had heavy periods for a while
• You have bad pain during your periods
• You bleed between periods or after sex
• You have heavy periods plus other symptoms like pain when you pee, poo, or have sex

What treatments are available?

Heavy periods don't always need treatment. But if they're affecting your daily life, your GP can help.

Treatments your GP might suggest include:

• Certain types of contraception, like a special coil that goes in your womb (called an IUS) or the combined contraceptive pill
• Medicine to reduce bleeding, like tranexamic acid
• Strong painkillers that you can only get on prescription

If these don't work, or if your GP thinks there might be an underlying cause, they'll refer you for tests or to see a specialist.

Specialist treatments might include:

• Removing the lining of your womb
• Removing fibroids (if they're causing the problem)
• Removing all or part of your womb (this is a big operation and is only done when other treatments haven't worked)

You might also need blood tests to check if you have low iron levels from losing too much blood.

Remember

Heavy periods are very common and often completely normal. But you don't have to put up with periods that make your life difficult. Speak to your GP - they can help you find the right treatment for you.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.