How to stop heavy periods – causes and treatments

A couple heavy flow days at the beginning of your period is normal. We’ve all leaked through a tampon or noticed a couple blood clots on our pads at the end of the day.

But if you change your sheets in the morning because you bleed through your tampon or pad at night, avoid wearing light-colored clothing during your cycle or cram your purse full of tampons, you could have chronic heavy periods. Keep reading to learn what may be causing your heavy period, how to tell the difference between normal and excessive menstrual bleeding, what treatments are available and more.

But what may be causing your heavy periods? How can you tell the difference between normal and heavy menstrual bleeding? And what treatments are available for heavy periods?

Below, we answer all those questions and more.

Why do I have heavy bleeding during my periods?

There are many different causes of menorrhagia, which is the medical term for heavy periods. The good news is that most of these causes are treatable. Because each woman’s period is unique, seeing the doctor is the only way to know for sure what’s causing your heavy periods. The most common causes of heavy periods include:

• Life changes – Our bodies are sensitive to change. Even stress can cause abnormal periods. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that big life changes may affect your cycle. It’s common to experience heavy period flow after pregnancy or childbirth, or during the time your body transitions to menopause (perimenopause).
• Changes to your medications or birth control – Heavy periods are a side effect of some medications, especially blood thinners. And some forms of birth control can affect the length of your menstrual cycle and how much you bleed. For example, using a copper or hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) can cause heavier periods for 3-6 months. Talk to your doctor if you notice changes to your period after starting a medication or birth control.
• Hormone imbalance – Too much or too little estrogen and progesterone can cause menorrhagia. Some women experience high levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone. This can cause the uterine lining to thicken. When a thick uterine lining sheds during menstruation, women might experience heavier blood flows and larger blood clots.
• Uterine fibroids – Fibroids are noncancerous growths inside the uterus. They range in size from a grain of sand to a large mass that can affect the size of your uterus. If your doctor finds fibroids in your uterus, they might recommend removing them to treat your heavy periods.
• Endometriosis – Endometriosis is a painful condition that causes abnormal growth of the uterine lining and forms uterine polyps. It can cause short period cycles and heavy, painful periods as your body sheds the thickened uterine lining. About one in 10 women in the United States has endometriosis.

What is considered menorrhagia?

You might be surprised to learn that about one in five women experience menorrhagia. Since everyone is different, it can be tricky to know if what you think is “normal” for your cycle would be considered a heavy period. In fact, half of women who experience menorrhagia don’t actually know they have it.

Recognizing menorrhagia symptoms

The best way to figure out if you’re experiencing chronically heavy period bleeding is to talk to a doctor. But there are some general signs that point toward menorrhagia. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, any of the following is considered a symptom of heavy menstrual bleeding:

• Bleeding for more than seven days
• Bleeding through one or more tampons or pads every hour
• You need to change your pad or tampon during the night
• You need to double up on protection to keep from leaking
• You notice blood clots the size of a quarter or larger

If left untreated, heavy period bleeding can also lead to anemia, which is when you don’t have enough red blood cells to circulate the amount of oxygen your body needs. This can cause other physical symptoms, such as:

• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Shortness of breath

How is menorrhagia diagnosed?

Diagnosing menorrhagia has two parts: confirming that your bleeding is unusually heavy and identifying the underlying cause.

For the first part, your doctor will ask you questions about your medical and menstrual histories. For the second part, one or more tests may be used. Examples include:

• A blood test to check hormone levels and look for signs of anemia or clotting issues.
• A Pap test, where cells from your cervix are examined for signs of infection, inflammation or other unusual changes.
• An endometrial biopsy, which involves taking samples from your uterine lining. The samples are looked at to see if any unusual or cancerous cells are present.
• An ultrasound, which uses sound waves to check for dysfunction in the pelvic organs, as well as blood flow issues.
• A sonohysterogram, another kind of ultrasound that’s done while your uterus is filled with liquid to get a better look at the uterine lining.
• A hysteroscopy, where a very small, flexible camera is used to examine the uterus for fibroids, polyps and other possible causes of bleeding issues.

How can I stop heavy periods (menorrhagia)?

Knowing the underlying reason for your heavy periods is key to getting the treatment that will be most effective for you, which is why talking to a doctor is so important. In some cases, heavy menstrual bleeding caused by fibroids, growths or endometriosis are best treated through surgery. But most often, menorrhagia treatment is a matter of lifestyle changes and medication, such as:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – Select NSAIDs like ibuprofen can reduce pain caused by menorrhagia and make your periods lighter. This is because NSAIDs reduce the amount of prostaglandins – hormones that cause pain and bleeding – in your uterine lining. While ibuprofen is helpful, some NSAIDs like aspirin that have blood-thinning effects should not be used for this purpose, as they may make bleeding worse.
• Birth control – Pills, patches, hormonal IUDs and other forms of hormonal birth control can regulate your periods as well. Hormonal birth control can thin the uterine lining, which reduces the amount of blood and tissue you lose during your menstrual cycle. Birth control can also be used to regulate the length of your cycle, alleviate painful cramps or even as a way to stop your period altogether. If you’re entering perimenopause or menopause, birth control can help manage menopause symptoms.
• Hormone therapy – When heavy periods are caused by a hormonal imbalance, hormone therapy may reduce bleeding. Like hormonal birth control, hormone therapy can be used regularly to thin the uterine lining and help keep your hormones balanced. Hormone therapy can also be used to treat conditions like endometriosis that cause pain and menstrual bleeding.
• Other medicines– In some cases, other medicines that require a doctor’s prescription can be used to help treat menorrhagia symptoms. Examples include stronger NSAIDs, tranexamic acid and desmopressin. Tranexamic acid can be taken at the start of a menstrual period to reduce bleeding, and desmopressin reduces bleeding by helping blood clot.
• Diet changes – Although it won’t stop menorrhagia, eating a diet rich in iron can help prevent anemia. Iron-rich foods include meat, seafood, beans, nuts, seeds and leafy green vegetables. Eating foods with lots of vitamin C like oranges, bell peppers and broccoli can help your body absorb extra iron in your diet. Also, do your best to avoid foods with processed sugar, trans-fats and starchy carbs. These foods can make menorrhagia symptoms worse. Also, if you’re unable to get enough iron through food, your doctor may recommend an iron vitamin supplement.

Heavy periods aren’t something that you have to put up with. If your period affects your daily life by causing you to miss work or school, cancel social activities or plan your day around bathroom breaks, make an appointment with a women’s health expert or a primary care doctor. At HealthPartners, you can choose from in-person or video visit options.

Women’s health experts like OB-GYNs specialize in female reproductive health, including heavy periods. And primary care doctors can diagnose and treat hundreds of conditions, as well as connect you with a specialist if more advanced care is needed.

Heavy Bleeding During Periods — When to Worry

Medically Reviewed by J. Michael Davidson, MD

Medically reviewed by Michael Davidson, MD McLeod Women’s Care

What’s “Normal” and What’s NOT

Generally, a woman’s menstrual period – when her body sheds the uterus lining – lasts 7 days. Bleeding can be captured with pads or tampons.

If the bleeding last more than 7 days and this occurs for several months, you may have a problem that needs medical attention. Other signs of irregularly heavy bleeding:

• Needing to change pads or tampons every 1-2 hours.
• Getting up in the middle of the night to change your pad or tampon.
• Finding blood clots the size of a quarter or larger on your pad or tampon.
• Feeling very tired or short of breath.

“Bleeding this heavy is called menorrhagia (men-uh-REEJ-yuh) and may have several causes,” says Gynecologist Dr. Michael Davidson of Advanced Women’s Care. “Heavy periods in teenagers are not uncommon and may settle down in time with or without treatment. They should be evaluated if bothersome, however, since treatments with medications are available.”

Causes

Heavy menstrual bleeding can be related to uterus problems, hormones or illnesses.

• Polyps, fibroids or endometriosis can cause abnormal uterine bleeding.
• There can be some bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy. This could be related to miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (when a fetus forms in the fallopian tubes rather than in the uterus).
• Chronic medical conditions – such as diabetes or disorders of the thyroid or adrenal gland – can cause bleeding.
• Sometimes medications can affect the body’s release of hormones, leading to bleeding.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will perform a physical exam, take some blood tests and may do a Pap smear. Based on the results, the following tests might be ordered:

• Ultrasound – similar to those used for pregnant women – gives an image of the pelvic organs.
• Endometrial biopsy involves taking a tissue sample from your uterus or surrounding area.
• Sonohysterogram (sahn-uh-HIS-ter-uh-gram) and a hysterosalpingogram (also known as an HSG) both involve injecting fluid through the cervix to better see the contours of the pelvic region.
• Hysteroscopy is a small tube inserted into the cervix through which the doctor can see the uterine cavity.

Treating the Problem

Before you call a doctor, here are some options to try:

• Take iron pills. Some studies suggest that low iron levels can increase menstrual bleeding. Also, heavy bleeding depletes the iron in your body, increasing fatigue.
• Try ice packs on your abdomen for 20 minutes several times a day.
• Try vitamin C to help your body absorb the iron.

Non-surgical treatments that your doctor may recommend to control bleeding and reduce pain include the use of medications – iron supplements, ibuprofen, birth control pills, and intrauterine contraception (IUD). The physician may also prescribe drugs that reduce bleeding by controlling blood clots. One such medicine, tranexamic acid tablets, can cut bleeding by 50%.

Minor surgical treatment can be part of a hysteroscopy. If the gynecologist finds polyps or small fibroids, these can be clipped and removed during the procedure. Other surgical treatments include:

• D&C (Dilation & Curettage) to remove the top layer of the uterus lining.
• Endometrial ablation vaporizes or freezes the tissues causing the problem.
• Myomectomy involves removing the fibroid from the uterus. This may sometimes be done laparoscopically.
• Hysterectomy involves surgically removing the uterus.

Pregnancy following treatment

With many treatments women can maintain their ability to get pregnant. Ablations result in reduced fertility, and after a hysterectomy, conceiving is impossible.

Sources include: McLeod Health, National Institutes of Health, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, HealthyWomen.org, Canadian Red Cross

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