Periods are different things to different people, but we can probably all agree that sometimes, periods are inconvenient, inconsistent, and irritatingly irregular. This vitamin helps your body absorb iron, which can help prevent anemia. Your heavy periods may be nothing or it could be an indicator that something else may be going on inside your body. Last updated June 2019 Next update due 2021. Overlong periods can also be “a sign of a miscarriage where the pregnancy was never diagnosed,” Dr. Brandi says. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Studies show that up to one in five white women with heavy periods has a bleeding disorder. It cures heavy bleeding, but you won’t be able to get pregnant afterward. If you don’t notice a change within the next one or two cycles, make an appointment to see your doctor. They’ll do a physical exam and may need to order tests, like an ultrasound, Pap test, or blood tests. All rights reserved. Abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding is called menorrhagia. With menorrhagia, your flow is so heavy that you’ll need to change your tampon or pad every hour for at least an entire day. They may also take a sample of the tissue that’s lining your uterus. 6. Also, that the blood loss interferes with your quality of life. When to see a doctor. For others, they start after years or decades of typical periods. If you're experiencing similar symptoms along with very heavy and prolonged periods, it's highly suggested you seek medical attention. Sometimes I would stop bleeding for maybe only 2 or 3 days, before the next episode would begin. But I had this problem for 8 years. Do this before you visit the doctor so that you can give the doctor as much information as possible. If you want to limit your period to only a couple of times a year, you should talk to your doctor and see if your body would react well to certain kinds of birth control. Heavy menstrual bleeding is a common side effect of a non-hormonal IUD. I’m trans and I want to stop it forever. If you dread your period because you have … Of course, you must also take care of how you eat. This is especially so if you also suffer from irregular periods. At these times you may find your periods are irregular as well as heavy. Make a cinnamon tea by steeping one cinnamon stick in a cup of boiling water to stop heavy periods. Have menstrual periods lasting more than 7 days. It can be done through your vagina, several small incisions in your abdomen (laparoscopy), or one larger cut in your abdomen. Periods occur when the endometrium sheds away and exits the body through the vagina. Women with heavy bleeding may potentially lose up to 80 mL. Although heavy menstrual bleeding is a common concern, most women don't experience blood loss severe enough to be defined as menorrhagia. If you see your doctor about your heavy periods, they’ll likely start by prescribing one of the following medications: Birth control pills, patches, and rings are different forms of hormonal birth control. Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSAIDs like aspirin and naproxen help reduce the swelling of the uterine walls. Hormonal IUDs can reduce period symptoms such as long lasting or heavy periods. All rights reserved. Talk with your doctor if you notice that something seems off. What can I do to prevent menstrual irregularities? Some women have heavy periods all the time, from their very first menstrual flow. If your doctor finds fibroids in your uterus, they might recommend removing them to treat your heavy periods. Your doctor may be able to treat your heavy periods with these methods: The bleeding of menorrhagia can lead to other problems including: If you have complications, talk to your doctor about what might help control your menorrhagia and related symptoms. These properties help balance your body’s estrogen levels.They also reduce the frequency of heavy bleeding and pain. Her passion … If you bleed heavily for a few days, your blood volume could get too low. Menorrhagia causes changes in the endometrial tissue in the uterus. The pain may come and go, or it may be constant. But it's not usually necessary to measure blood loss. You only need to take it for a few days each month, but it won’t prevent you from getting pregnant like birth control drugs. But menorrhagia is not common. The body uses iron to create new blood cells. To get more of this nutrient, eat foods high in iron like: Another way to increase your iron intake is by cooking in a cast-iron skillet. Date reviewed: January 2020. For extra protection on heavy days, some girls use a tampon and wear a pad or absorbent period underwear. Endometriosis – Endometriosis is a painful condition that causes abnormal growth of the uterine lining and forms uterine polyps. I am going on holiday in two weeks and I will probably have my period while I am away (they vary from every 24 to 36 days). I want treatment and advice from my GP . Dr Shreya Patel, MBBS MSc BSc DFSRH . This includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil, Motrin, or aspirin. 1. If you are suffering with this condition, the best starting point is your GP. If you soak through a pad or tampon every hour or so on a regular basis, talk with your doctor. Actually the heavy periods are in and of themselves unhealthy and can adversely affect your health because of the heavy blood loss. Some women just have heavier periods than others; in some cases, however, medical conditions cause heavy menstruation. It could lead to anemia (low levels of red blood cells), which can make you feel weak, tired, or out of breath. Drinking 4 to 6 extra cups of water each day can help to maintain your blood volume. Other conditions that can cause heavy periods include: blood clotting disorders, such as Von Willebrand disease; an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) – where the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, causing tiredness, weight gain and feelings of depression; diabetes; Medical treatments that can sometimes cause heavy periods include: Heavy menstrual bleeding can make everyday activities difficult, but you can help stop it naturally through home remedies and simple lifestyle changes. The symptoms are basically extremely heavy menstrual bleeding accompanied by the passing of tissue, (it looks like a large blood clot, but is actually the lining of the uterus), and sometimes heavy abdominal, back, or leg cramping. You might want to track your periods by writing down the dates of your periods and how heavy you think your flow is (maybe by counting how many pads or tampons you use). If your period is so heavy that you quickly soak through pads or tampons — or have to double up on different types of protection — there are things you can do to find relief. If you especially dread that time of the month because your period is so heavy, you might want to try one of these seven ways to lighten up your menstrual cycle. This involves blocking the blood vessels that supply the fibroids, causing them to shrink. They can determine whether you actually need to take a supplement, the appropriate dose for you, and side effects or interactions to watch for. I am normally such a confident, sociable person that I found being in this situation totally alien to me and highly embarrassing.” Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Getting Control of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding from Fibroids, I’m a Black Woman and Thought My Period Pain Was Actually Going to Kill Me, Black Women, Fibroids, and Heavy Bleeding, The Latest Treatment Advances for Fibroids and Heavy Menstrual Flow, have quarter-sized or larger clots in your period blood, you have to double up on protection to provide adequate coverage, you soak through one or more pads or tampons an hour, you have to change your pad or tampon during the night, you pass blood clots bigger than a quarter, you’re experiencing symptoms of anemia, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and pale skin, your periods last for more than a week at a time. These drugs may also help relieve painful cramps. It can cause short period cycles and heavy, painful periods as your body sheds the thickened uterine lining. You may be prescribed tranexamic acid tablets if an IUS is unsuitable or you're waiting for further tests or another treatment. Very heavy periods can deplete your body of iron and lead to iron deficiency anemia. Heavy periods can impact enormously on some women's day-to-day lives, but they can generally be managed using hormone therapies or surgery. This can, therefore, reduce heavy menstrual flow and cramps associated with the period. Talk to your doctor if you want to permanently stop your period, because doctors have access to certain resources that might make it a viable possibility. Certain nutrients — like iron, especially — help replenish what you lose each month. However, some menstrual irregularities can't be prevented. Before recommending a specific procedure, your doctor will consider: This noninvasive treatment helps with bleeding caused by uterine fibroids. It was here that I began to suffer from heavy periods,' says Le Mac. You should also see your doctor if you: If you’re having irregular and heavy bleeding patterns near menopause, or you have any vaginal bleeding after being told you’re past menopause, you should see a doctor for immediate evaluation. If some of your friends get their periods earlier, it could also mean that you are going to get yours. Read more about the IUS. Cinnamon as an herbal remedy for heavy flow. In addition, consult your health care … 3) I've started having sex with my BF. According to reproductive endocrinologist Jane Frederick, M.D., your period is considered abnormally heavy if you go through a pad more than once every two hours. “In the 10 days or so before your period, your body is geared up in the hopes that the egg you sent down the old fallopian tube met some sperm there and … These can be diagnosed with a physical exam, ultrasound, biopsy, or other procedure. 2) If i went on the pill when would i take it? The purpose of this article is to define normal and very heavy menstrual bleeding, to explain what causes heavy flow, and to show what you yourself can do in dealing with heavy flow. In some cases, getting enough rest and taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can also do the trick. Many women have heavy flow days and cramps when they have their period. You ca n't be prevented in summary, very heavy bleeding a few days, your blood vessels will,... 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