Periods are something that are a part of nearly all young females' lives, and it can be hard to tell if you “just have a heavy flow” or if there is an actual cause for concern. Keep on reading to learn what constitutes a heavy period, when to seek medical advice, and what your options are for managing your heavy period.
What makes a period “heavy”?
First things first, every female’s menstrual cycle is unique. What you might consider heavy, a friend might consider normal. The general criteria for a heavy period is:
- Periods lasting longer than 7 days.
- Pads or tampons needing changing every hour for multiple hours back-to-back (by needing changing, we are talking “about to leak through” saturated.) During a typical period, you should be able to wear a single pad or tampon for at least 3 hours.
- Your period highly interferes with your day-to-day life. Do you avoid going out for fear that you will leak through your pants? Do you bring bags full of extra undies, pants and ample amounts of pads and tampons for a simple outing?
When to seek medical attention:
- If any of the above sounds like you, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. There are many options to try and get your flow under control.
- If you begin to feel short of breath, dizzy, weak, or unbearably tired, or have severe cramping, or go through more than 4 super-saturated pads or tampons in 2 hours, it is time to go to urgent care or the emergency room.
What will be done during your visit?
During your visit, your provider will ask you for a medical history and may ask you questions such as:
- When you got your first period.
- How long your periods have been heavy.
- Family medical history.
- If you are on birth control and your pregnancy history.
- What medications or supplements you take.
- If you or other family members have trouble with excessive bleeding in other areas. For example, do you bleed for a long time after a small cut or shaving nick?
They may also:
- Draw labs to check for anemia, hormonal imbalances, such as a malfunctioning thyroid gland, or blood clotting tests.
- Perform a pelvic exam.
- Check for sexually transmitted infections.
- Do an ultrasound or biopsy depending on symptoms.
What are some options for dealing with heavy periods?
Depending on what is causing your increase in bleeding, your provider may talk to you about:
- Iron supplements (to help replenish iron lost through period blood).
- Starting hormonal birth control; the pill, arm implants, IUDs, patches and vaginal rings are all ways to try and regulate abnormal bleeding patterns and reduce heavy flows.
- Hormone therapy.
- Procedures and surgeries that are available down the line, all depending on the cause of heavy bleeding and if less invasive options do not work for you.
Periods are often dismissed and women feel embarrassed to talk about them. NEVER assume that your heavy bleeding is normal and you just have to “tough it out,” there is a possibility there could be an underlying medical issue. There are also many apps available to more consistently track your period.
When in doubt, make an appointment with gynecology or your family medicine provider at Northfield Hospital + Clinics.