Women: Why You Shouldn’t Ignore a Heavy Period

Many women experience cramps and heavy flow during their period. But when the amount of blood is significant or it lasts for more than a week, it's important to get checked out as it could signal a health problem.

At The Healthy Woman, our highly skilled clinicians provide healthcare for women through all stages of their lives including OB/GYN and primary care. In this month's blog, we discuss what constitutes heavy menstrual bleeding, what it could mean, and when you should seek an evaluation from an expert.

Recognizing heavy periods

Also known as menorrhagia, heavy periods are common and affect about one in five women. Signs include bleeding that lasts more than seven days and having to change a pad or tampon during the night or every hour for back-to-back hours in the daytime. Some women wear multiple pads to prevent leakage.

This condition can have a significant impact on a woman's ability to participate in normal daily activities.

Reasons to get checked out

Heavy bleeding can cause anemia and its symptoms of fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. It can also signal a health problem. Possibilities include:

Hormone imbalance

If hormone levels aren't balanced, the lining of your uterus may become thicker and lead to heavier flow when it is shed. A copper intrauterine device (IUD) can also cause extra bleeding after insertion.

Uterine growths

Fibroids or polyps can develop in the uterus and make periods heavier or longer than is typical.

Certain conditions and medications

Having a bleeding disorder can result in more and extended bleeding. Medications like blood thinners and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause this as well.

Pregnancy complications

Heavy bleeding related to an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage can be mistaken for menstruation.

Cancer

Excess bleeding may also result when a woman has cancer of the uterus, cervix or ovaries.

Other health conditions

Endometriosis, adenomyosis, thyroid disease, and pelvic inflammatory disease can cause heavier bleeding, as can kidney or liver disease and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Diagnosing heavy periods

Our team typically makes a diagnosis by talking with you about your health history, including tracking symptoms, and a physical examination. Tests may include a Pap smear, pelvic exam, ultrasound, blood tests, or uterine biopsy.

Treatment options

Depending on the cause of the bleeding, medication such as hormonal drugs, a hormonal IUD, or other options are often the first treatment we recommend. If this route doesn’t resolve the issue, we may suggest options that involve treating the underlying condition, such as removing polyps, fibroids or the excess tissue lining the uterus.

Personalized care when you need it

If you've been suffering with heavy or extended bleeding, don’t ignore it. We work to determine the cause and partner with you to develop the best treatment plan to address the issue.

Call us at 770-809-1100 or request an appointment online today. You can see our OB/GYN group in Snellville, Conyers, and Lawrenceville, Georgia, and our primary care team in Atlanta, Lawrenceville, and Newnan, Georgia.