what can cause heavy periods

What causes heavy periods

• Fibroids. Fibroids are abnormal growths that form in the muscle of the uterus. ...
• Polyps. Uterine polyps are usually non-cancerous (benign) growths of the lining of the uterus (the endometrium).
• Cancer, malignancy and hyperplasia. Some women may develop an abnormally thick lining of the inside surface of their uterus. ...
• Adenomyosis. ...

Full Answer

What are the reasons for heavy periods?

Reasons for Heavy Periods [9 Common Causes]

1. Hormonal Imbalance. The two major hormones that take part in the regulation of the menstrual cycle are estrogen and progesterone.
2. Difficulties in Blood Clotting. Another prominent cause of heavy periods can be anomalies in clot formation. ...
3. Fibroids. ...
4. Endometriosis. ...
5. Pelvic Inflammatory Changes. ...
6. Endometrial Polyps. ...

More items...

What are the symptoms of a heavy period?

• Chronic pelvic pain
• Period pain
• Period-related pain during urination or bowel movements
• Bloating
• Pain during or after sex
• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Abdominal cramps

Why is my period so heavy?

There are many reasons why some women have heavy periods. These are some common causes: Hormone problems. Every month, a lining builds up inside your uterus (womb), which you shed during your period. If your hormone levels aren’t balanced, your body can make the lining too thick, which leads to heavy bleeding when you shed the thicker lining.

What causes painful periods and how to relieve?

• Get regular exercise. Results of a 2015 study showed that doing 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week significantly reduced the severity of menstrual cramps over the course ...
• Use a heating pad. ...
• Manage your stress. ...
• Soak in a hot bath. ...
• Take supplements. ...
• OTC pain medication. ...

What are uterine polyps?

Uterine polyps. Uterine polyps attach to your uterus by a large base or a thin stalk and can grow to be several centimeters in size. Irregular menstrual bleeding, bleeding after menopause, excessively heavy menstrual flow or bleeding between periods could signal the presence of uterine polyps. Adenomyosis. Open pop-up dialog box.

What causes menstrual bleeding?

Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding can lead to other medical conditions, including: 1 Anemia. Menorrhagia can cause blood loss anemia by reducing the number of circulating red blood cells. The number of circulating red blood cells is measured by hemoglobin, a protein that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues.#N#Iron deficiency anemia occurs as your body attempts to make up for the lost red blood cells by using your iron stores to make more hemoglobin, which can then carry oxygen on red blood cells. Menorrhagia may decrease iron levels enough to increase the risk of iron deficiency anemia.#N#Signs and symptoms include pale skin, weakness and fatigue. Although diet plays a role in iron deficiency anemia, the problem is complicated by heavy menstrual periods. 2 Severe pain. Along with heavy menstrual bleeding, you might have painful menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). Sometimes the cramps associated with menorrhagia are severe enough to require medical evaluation.

What is it called when you have a heavy period?

Menorrhagia is the medical term for menstrual periods with abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding. Although heavy menstrual bleeding is a common concern, most women don't experience blood loss severe enough to be defined as menorrhagia.

Why do girls have menorrhagia?

Menorrhagia in adolescent girls is typically due to anovulation. Adolescent girls are especially prone to anovulatory cycles in the first year after their first menstrual period (menarche). Menorrhagia in older reproductive-age women is typically due to uterine pathology, including fibroids, polyps and adenomyosis.

What is the pain associated with menorrhagia?

Severe pain. Along with heavy menstrual bleeding, you might have painful menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). Sometimes the cramps associated with menorrhagia are severe enough to require medical evaluation.

What happens if your ovaries don't release an egg?

If your ovaries don't release an egg (ovulate) during a menstrual cycle (anovulation), your body doesn't produce the hormone progesterone, as it would during a normal menstrual cycle . This leads to hormone imbalance and may result in menorrhagia. Uterine fibroids.

How does menorrhagia cause blood loss?

Anemia. Menorrhagia can cause blood loss anemia by reducing the number of circulating red blood cells. The number of circulating red blood cells is measured by hemoglobin, a protein that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues.

Why do I have a heavy period?

Heavy periods have a wide range of causes, most commonly, they’re due to hormone imbalances, particularly high estrogen levels or not ovulating, but they can be due to a variety of underlying causes from PCOS to an uncommon but not completely rare genetic bleeding disorder that can cause heavy periods (and I mean HEAVY).

What hormone is responsible for the first half of the period?

Estrogen is a marvelous hormone. At the right levels it plays a central role in our reproductive, brain, bone, and heart health. During the first half of each menstrual cycle, called the proliferative phase, your uterine lining naturally builds up (or proliferates, hence the name) under the influence of estrogen. This lining is then shed with each menstrual cycle, leading to our menstrual flow. Heavy periods can be a sign that this layer has been building up too thickly – as a result of estrogen levels that might be too high.

What is the role of estrogen in the body?

Estrogen is a marvelous hormone. At the right levels it plays a central role in our reproductive, brain, bone, and heart health. During the first half of each menstrual cycle, called the proliferative phase, your uterine lining naturally builds up (or proliferates, hence the name) under the influence of estrogen.

How do you know if you are not ovulating?

If you’re not ovulating regularly, there’s a good chance you’re having periods that are more than 35 days (or more) apart, and may occur irregularly. This allows your uterine lining more time to build up, with heavier bleeding when your period finally does start. Symptoms that you’re not ovulating include long menstrual cycles (periods >35 days apart), low or no mid-cycle ‘fertile-type cervical mucus’ discharge (it should be similar to egg whites and kind of stretchy around ovulation), sleep problems especially in the second half of your menstrual cycle (1-2 weeks before your period), and possibly difficulty conceiving.

What is the function of the estrobolome?

A disrupted gut microbiome: Within your gut, there is a special collection of bacteria known as your estrobolome whose entire job is regulating estrogen levels. When your microbiome is out of balance, these bacteria might not break down and help you eliminate estrogen properly. Too much estrogen from a disrupted estrobolome is associated with heavy periods and other gynecologic symptoms.

How does optimizing your diet help your estrobolome?

Optimizing the nutrients in your diet serves two major purposes: it provides the powerhouse nutrients that support eliminating excess estrogen and it nourishes your estrobolome so it can better regulate estrogen. And what’s really cool – the bacteria in your estrobolome are actually able to manufacture estrogen from plants in our diet by converting a plant compound known as lignans to phytoestrogens (plant-estrogens.) Opposite to xenoestrogens, phytoestrogens are actually incredibly beneficial. When estrogen levels are high, they can block the receptors and protect you from the risks of excess estrogen exposure.

Why do I have no ovulation?

Low body weight: A BMI below normal (less than 18.5) can be another common cause of lack of ovulation – but in this case, periods are more likely to be very light than heavy.

What Is Menorrhagia?

Menorrhagia is the medical term for unusually heavy or long menstrual periods. Many women have heavy flow days and cramps when they have their period. But menorrhagia is not common.

What happens if you don't ovulate?

If you don’t ovulate (release an egg from an ovary), this can throw off the hormone balance in your body, too, leading to a thicker lining and a heavier period. Growths in the uterus (womb). Polyps are growths within the lining of your uterus. Fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumors that grow within your uterus.

Why do IUDs make my periods heavier?

Certain IUDs. Many women use a small intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control. If your IUD doesn’t have hormones, it may make your periods heavier. Problems related to pregnancy. In rare cases, after sperm and egg meet, the growing ball of cells implants itself outside the uterus instead of inside.

What tests are needed for menorrhagia?

They’ll do a physical exam and may need to order tests, like an ultrasound, Pap test, or blood tests. They may also take a sample of the tissue that’s lining your uterus. Menorrhagia Treatment. Your doctor may be able to treat your heavy periods with these methods: Birth control.

How to lighten your period?

Taking birth control pills can alter the balance of hormones in your body, which can put an end to heavy periods. Getting an IUD that gives off hormones is another choice that can help lighten your periods. Certain drugs. Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce the flow of your heavy periods.

How to remove lining of uterus?

Removing the lining of your uterus. There are a few ways that doctors can do this. The simplest procedure, called dilation and curettage (D&C), removes only the outermost layer of the lining of your uterus. It often stops heavy periods, but some women need to get this done more than once.

Can you get pregnant after endometrial ablation?

Women have much lighter periods or no periods afterward. Doctors advise women not to get pregnant after endometrial ablation or resection .

What is very heavy period flow or menses?

Normal blood loss during period in women is usually less than 80mls. If your period is more than 80mls then it is heavy. However, it may be difficult to calculate how much of blood you’ve lost during menstruation.

What causes heavy period flow in women?

If your period is heavy with very frequent change of pads in few hours or your periods are now lasting longer than usual, then these are the possible causes.

What is Normal period length and menstrual flow?

In women, period occurs due to regular cyclic shredding of the endometrium covering the uterus. This is due to hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle.

Why does my period flow so fast?

Endometrial hyperplasia, which is the overgrowth and thickening of the endometrium, can cause heavy period flow. It is due to unopposed effects of estrogen especially in women taking hormone replacement or diseases like polycystic ovarian syndrome. Symptoms are: Bleeding or spotting between period.

What is a fibroid?

Fibroid are benign mass or growth that affects the uterus. It can cause infertility in women and very heavy bleeding. Uterine fibroid can be found on the surface of the uterus or within the uterine muscle.

Why is my period so heavy?

If you have a heavy menstruation for the first time, then it may likely not be a problem. However, heavy persistent period is abnormal. One of these may be the reason your period is heavier this month. Vaginal infections. Stress.

What to do if you have a heavy bleeding during your period?

If the cause of your heavy bleeding during periods is due to PID, it will be treated will antibiotics.

What are uterine polyps?

Uterine polyps are small, noncancerous growths that occur on the uterus. According to an article in SAGE Open Medicine#N#Trusted Source#N#, uterine polyps often have no symptoms. However, they can cause health issues, such as heavy bleeding and infertility.

How do you know if you have uterine cancer?

Symptoms of uterine cancer include: heavy vaginal bleeding not related to the menstrual cycle (e.g., after menopause) pain during sex. pain in the pelvic area . trouble urinating or painful urination. Treatments for endometrial cancer can include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and hormone therapy.

How to stop heavy period bleeding?

A person can take steps such as: using two period products or wearing two layers of underwear.

How long does it take for a woman to bleed during her period?

Normal menstrual bleeding lasts less than 1 week. However, the amount of bleeding can vary from person to person and from one period to the next. A person with heavy periods may also experience intense cramping, back pain, or symptoms of anemia, such as fatigue and weakness.

What is the surgical option for a polyp?

surgical options, such as a hysteroscopic polypectomy (removal of the polyp)

Why do doctors terminate a pregnancy?

If an ectopic pregnancy occurs, a doctor will terminate the pregnancy because it cannot safely come to term.

How to get rid of cramps during period?

changing pads or tampons more frequently, including in the middle of the night if necessary. using a heat wrap, heating pad, or warm bath to ease cramps. taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen . getting regular exercise.

How can I stop heavy periods?

If you’ve heard that the only options for treating heavy periods are hormone therapy or surgery, that’s not true! Just like there are many causes of menorrhagia, there are many treatment options available. We’re often able to manage heavy periods with treatments ranging from diet changes to prescription medication.

When should I see a doctor for heavy periods?

Many women have come to accept heavy bleeding as a normal part of their cycle. This helps explain why over half of women with menorrhagia don’t know they have it, or know that heavy periods are treatable. If left untreated, heavy periods can cause other health concerns like anemia, a red blood cell condition that makes it difficult for your organs to get the oxygen they need.

What is a small, non-cancerous growth inside the uterus?

Uterine fibroids – Fibroids are small, non-cancerous 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.

Why does my period change after birth control?

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.

Why does my uterus thicken?

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.

What is the size of a blood clot?

The blood clots in your flow are the size of a quarter or larger

Does birth control help with periods?

Birth control – Pills, patches, hormonal IUDs and other forms of hormonal birth control can work to 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 let you skip your period all together.