Written by Shereen Amin, Pharmacist Prescriber and Medical Content Writer

Introduction

Heavy periods are so common that many women assume they are just something to put up with. You might have grown up hearing that painful, heavy bleeding is "normal," or that you should simply "get on with it". But there is a real difference between a heavy period and bleeding that needs medical help.

Around one in four women will have heavy periods at some point in their lives. Yet many wait years before asking for help. Often, they are not sure if their bleeding is "bad enough" to see a doctor. The truth is, if your periods are affecting your daily life, that is reason enough to ask for support.

What counts as a heavy period?

Doctors sometimes define heavy periods as losing more than 80ml of blood each cycle. But nobody measures that at home. It is not a useful number for most of us.

A better way to think about it is this: if your periods are getting in the way of your life, they count as heavy. It is about how they affect you, not just how much you bleed.

Some signs that your periods might be too heavy:

• You are soaking through a pad or tampon every hour or two, for several hours in a row.
• You need to use a pad and a tampon together, or wear nighttime pads during the day.
• You are passing blood clots bigger than a 10p coin.
• Your periods last longer than seven days.
• You are bleeding through your clothes or onto your bedding.
• You are skipping work, exercise, or seeing friends because of your period.
• You feel very tired, breathless, or dizzy during or after your period.

If any of these sound like you, it is worth talking to your GP. You do not need to have all of these symptoms. Even one or two is enough to ask for help.

Why do some women have heavier periods?