Heavy periods are an issue that about 1 in 4 women must endure. However, a heavy period is not an indication of an ailment. A woman with a normal flow could lose between 6 and 8 teaspoons of blood each period. Moreover, periods can last up to five days, with some women experiencing it for eight days.
It can be difficult to determine how much blood you lose during your periods. However, there are ways to check if you are experiencing abnormally heavy bleeding. These include frequently bleeding through your clothes and changing tampons or pads after every two hours. Another sign of excessive bleeding could be having blood clots larger than a 50-cent coin.
Some women could even have difficulty leaving their houses due to an abnormally heavy flow. Excessive bleeding could cause an interruption in a woman’s emotional, physical, and social life. Moreover, heavy menstrual bleeding has a link to severe cramps. If a woman experiences any of these problems, she should consult her doctor for evaluation and treatment.
Causes of heavy periods
There are several causes of heavy periods. These include hormone issues such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and perimenopause. It could even be due to structural abnormalities caused by polyps or fibroids. Precancerous changes could also lead to abnormal bleeding.
Women can have more than one cause of heavy menstrual bleeding. However, it isn’t easy to find the root cause for most women. Despite this, a doctor should treat a woman with heavy bleeding.
For women with heavy menstrual bleeding, a doctor may carry out several tests, including a physical exam, pap smear, blood tests to rule out clotting disorders or iron deficiency, and a pelvic ultrasound.
Treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding
Because there are treatment options for heavy periods, there is no reason for women to tolerate them. Women can take medication such as ibuprofen before visiting their doctors. Although these drugs are commonly used to alleviate period pain, many are unaware that they could reduce bleeding by about 50%.
Other treatments include a hormone-releasing IUD, tranexamic acid, and combined oral contraceptives, which your doctor will prescribe. Consuming a diet rich in iron could also be beneficial for women with iron deficiency.
