Heavy menstruation
Causes and Tips
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Women who have a heavy menstrual period often suffer greatly from other period-related complaints. Here you can find out the causes and what helps!
What is Heavy Menstrual Period?
In gynecology, one speaks of heavy menstrual bleeding ("hypermenorrhea") if a tampon or a pad has to be changed within two hours (a change is actually sufficient about every four hours). Women normally lose between 60 and 80 milliliters of blood per menstrual period; with hypermenorrhea it is usually over 80 milliliters. Around nine to 14 out of 100 women have an excessive menstrual period, which on the one hand promotes iron deficiency due to the loss of blood and on the other hand can exacerbate typical menstrual cramps.
Often these women are also affected by so-called menorrhagia – this is Excessive bleeding for more than five to seven days. The cause is often the same for both phenomena.
Causes: How does heavy menstrual bleeding occur?
A few girls have heavy menstrual periods from their first menstruation, but many women only suffer from it much later – for example after having a child, after using the IUD for contraception or due to hormonal changes. Most often there is increased menstrual bleeding, because the uterus cannot contract properly. The contraction loosens the mucous membrane in the uterus, which allows blood to be better flushed out for a certain time.
The following factors can prevent the uterus from contracting:
- Benign tumors such as myomas or polyps
- Inserted spiral
- Inflammation of the uterus or fallopian tubes
- Adhesions (congenital or as a result of endometriosis)
- In some cases, disorders of the heart, kidneys or liver functions, bleeding disorders, hormonal changes or diseases of the thyroid gland
Interesting is, that cancer-related changes usually do not trigger heavy menstrual bleeding.
Symptoms: What are the effects of heavy menstrual bleeding?
There are three basic symptomsthat speak in favor of heavy menstruation:
- Regularly sized tampons and sanitary towels need to be changed permanently about every two hours.
- During the period the woman suffers from extreme tiredness, listlessness and physical weakness.
- There are many thick blood clots in menstrual blood.
Help, anemia: what can happen if the menstrual period is too heavy?
Women who bleed excessively during their period can slide into iron deficiency. However, the body needs a lot of iron to build new red blood cells. If there is not enough, it leads to anemia ("anemia"). The red blood cells transport oxygen through the body – if this supply decreases, we feel tired and exhausted. Paleness and cold hands and feet can also be the result.
Help with heavy menstrual periods: Tips for everyday life
Depending on the cause, the heavy period can be treated. Benign growths can be surgically removed, for example. The following treatment options also contain the symptoms:
- Medicines that reduce bleeding.
- Taking the pill – this slows down the growth of the lining of the uterus and thus the bleeding.
- If there is no longer any desire to have children, the mucous membrane of the uterus can be obliterated or removed.
So that everyday life becomes easier with heavy menstrual bleeding and menstrual cramps, the following tips help:
- Work as close as possible to the toilet if you suddenly need to change your sanitary napkin or tampon. Home office may also be an alternative.
- Dark clothing conceals any mishap stains.
- Waterproof pad in bed in case blood is lost overnight.
- The combination of tampon and sanitary napkin can also provide protection against heavy bleeding.
- Affected women should always have appropriate hygiene items in stock at work and in their handbag.
What can help against menstrual symptoms we reveal in the article PMS. Are you missing your period? We explain possible causes to you! You can also find out what spotting instead of periods means, what severe abdominal pain can mean, and what an irregular cycle is.
Video tip: you should know that about menstruation!