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Heavy flows and achy cramps can be common experiences when many women have their periods. Periods that prevent you from doing everyday activities aren’t normal.
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Each woman’s menstrual flow and cycle are different. It may be hard to know if your period is normal, light, or heavy unless you talk with your doctor. Women lose an average of 30 to 40 milliliters (mL) of blood during a period.
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Women with heavy bleeding may potentially lose up to 80 mL. Women who do experience abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding may have a condition called menorrhagia. This condition causes flows so heavy you need to change your tampon or pad every hour.
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You may also use more than six or seven tampons a day. This condition can cause anemia and severe cramps.
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You may also pass blood clots larger than a quarter during your period. Because measuring your total blood loss is impractical, the best way to know if your period is unusually heavy is to talk with your doctor. Together, you can review:your symptoms conditions that might be causing greater bleeding what can be done to treat it
What causes a heavy period
Several conditions or issues can cause heavy periods.
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These heavy periods may occur frequently, or they may be more sporadic.
A period that s suddenly very heavy one month
Ectopic pregnancy
The signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy may be confused with a heavy menstrual period.
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This type of pregnancy develops outside your uterus and isn’t sustainable. It can cause severe health issues, including heavy bleeding and severe cramping. Left untreated, an ectopic pregnancy is life threatening.
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Miscarriage
During and surrounding a miscarriage, heavy bleeding is common and may be mistaken for a very heavy period.Non-hormonal intrauterine device IUD
Heavy menstrual bleeding is a common side effect of a non-hormonal IUD.
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After a few months with your IUD, you may find that bleeding becomes less severe.
Medications
Blood thinners can lead to blood flow problems and heavier menstrual flow.A period that s heavy on the first day
Many women experience heavier bleeding on the first day of a period and lighter bleeding on the last days.
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A heavy flow that might get in the way of your normal activities is unusual.
Birth control changes
If you recently stopped using hormonal birth control, your periods may be very heavy in the first days as your cycle adjusts to the hormone changes.
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Medication changes
Like birth control, medications you take may interfere with your cycle and lead to heavy bleeding on the first day of your period.A recurring period that s heavy and painful
If every period is heavy, painful, and difficult to work around, you may have underlying, long-term issues.
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Hormone problem
Your body typically balances progesterone and estrogen, the two hormones that play the biggest roles in menstruation. Too much estrogen, however, can lead to a thickened uterine lining. This can cause heavy bleeding as the lining is eliminated during your period.
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An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) may also cause heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding
Bleeding disorder
Roughly 10 to 30 percent of women with heavy periods have a bleeding disorder, such as von Willebrand disease. These disorders can make it difficult to stop your bleeding.Uterine polyps
These small growths on the lining of the uterus can make periods heavier.
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Uterine fibroids
Fibroids are noncancerous growths of the muscle tissue of the uterus. They can develop on the outside of the uterus, within the wall, or protrude into the cavity or some combination of these.
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Certain cancers
Cancer in your uterus, cervix, and ovaries is rarely the sole cause of heavy bleeding, but a heavier period may be a symptom.Perimenopause
During this transition before menopause, you may experience hormonal changes and unusually heavy bleeding during your period.Childbirth recovery
After you have a baby, heavy periods aren’t uncommon.
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These changes may be permanent, or your period may return to a flow similar to what you had before getting pregnant.
Adenomyosis
Adenomyosis is a condition where endometrial tissue encroaches into the muscles of the uterus, causing thickening of the uterine wall and increased pain and bleeding.PCOS
PCOS is a common health problem characterized by an imbalance in hormones.
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Women with this condition can experience irregular menstrual periods, make periods heavier or make them stop.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue similar to your endometrial tissue grows outside of your uterine cavity.
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Symptoms include:painful periods lower back pain heavy menstrual bleeding
When to see your doctor
If bleeding is so heavy that you must replace a pad or tampon every hour, talk with your doctor. Likewise, if your period prevents you from doing normal activities because of pain, cramping, and heavy bleeding, it’s time to see your doctor.
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During a visit, your doctor may:conduct a physical exam request your health history request that your symptoms be recorded They may also order a biopsy or imaging tests to look more closely at your uterus. It’s difficult to know if your period is considered normal or heavy without your doctor’s help.
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They’ll be your guide in the process of figuring out if an underlying issue is the reason for your heavy periods.
How is a heavy period treated
Typical treatments for heavy periods focus on regulating blood flow.
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Some treatments can also eliminate symptoms such as pain and cramping. If an underlying condition is causing your heavy bleeding, treating it may eliminate your unusually heavy periods.
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Typical treatments for heavy periods include:Birth control. Birth control pills and hormonal IUDs may help balance hormones and manage periods.Over-the-counter pain medications.
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NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, may help ease symptoms of a painful period and help reduce blood loss. You can purchase NSAIDs online.Prescription medication.
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Your doctor may prescribe certain prescription medications such as oral progesterone to help treat heavy periods.Surgery. Removing polyps or fibroids may help reduce bleeding and ease other painful period symptoms.Dilation and curettage (D & C). If other treatments aren’t successful, your doctor may remove the outermost layers of the lining of your uterus during a D & C procedure.
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This helps reduce bleeding and lighten periods. This procedure may need to be repeated.Hysterectomy. In extreme cases, removing your uterus entirely may be necessary.
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You’ll no longer have periods, and you will not be able to get pregnant after this procedure.
The bottom line
Every woman’s cycle is different. That’s why it’s hard to know if your periods are normal or heavy.
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Your doctor can help you understand where your periods fall on the spectrum. They can also help you look for treatments and if necessary, address any complications resulting from heavy blood loss. You can book an appointment with an OB-GYN in your area using our Healthline FindCare tool.
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It’s important that you’re honest with your doctor about your periods and symptoms so they can find helpful solutions for you. There’s no reason to dread your period.
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There are many good options that can help you regulate and manage it.
3 Yoga Poses to Relieve Cramps
Last medically reviewed on September 28, 2022How we vetted this article
SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.
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We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Bleeding disorders in women. (2022).
cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/features/bleeding-disorders-symptoms-stories.htmlEndometrial hyperplasia.
cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/features/bleeding-disorders-symptoms-stories.htmlEndometrial hyperplasia.
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(2021).
acog.org/womens-health/faqs/endometrial-hyperplasiaHeavy periods (2021).
nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods/Hubacher D, et al. (2009). Side effects from the copper IUD: Do they decrease over time?
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702765/Miscarriage.
acog.org/womens-health/faqs/endometrial-hyperplasiaHeavy periods (2021).
nhs.uk/conditions/heavy-periods/Hubacher D, et al. (2009). Side effects from the copper IUD: Do they decrease over time?
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702765/Miscarriage.
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(2015).
medlineplus.gov/miscarriage.htmlRobinson KS. (2018). The assessment of tranexamic acid in women with menorrhagia who have bleeding disorders.
clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00904709Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
medlineplus.gov/miscarriage.htmlRobinson KS. (2018). The assessment of tranexamic acid in women with menorrhagia who have bleeding disorders.
clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00904709Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
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Current Version
Sep 29, 2022
By
Kimberly Holland
Edited By
John Bassham
Medically Reviewed By
Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH
Copy Edited By
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Mar 23, 2020
By
Kimberly Holland
Medically Reviewed By
Carolyn Kay, MD
Copy Edited By
Delores Smith-Johnson
Share this articleMedically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH — By Kimberly Holland — Updated on September 28, 2022
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