These signs likely mean your period is too heavy, we’d like you to call to discuss. In fact, with the right management, some providers argue you shouldn’t need a period at all, but that’s up to a personal consultation.The first step would be to have a consultation regarding the reason for the heavy bleeding. The reason is often uterine fibroids or hormonal imbalance.
The formal definition means you bleed over 80 cc
Knowing exactly how much blood you lose, which is very difficult for a patient to evaluate. CBC tests and ferritin levels can help determine the heaviness, Also tracking on your period app.
1. Do you ever, on any of the days of your period have a need for double protection to manage menstrual bleeding?
2. Does your menstrual cycle flow cause you a sensation of “gushing” or “flooding”?
3. Do you ever thoroughly soak one pad and/or tampon or more per hour for three or more consecutive hours?
4. Do you need to arise at night regularly during your menstrual period needing to change the tampon or sanitary pad at night or do you regularly soil your bedding?
5. Does your menstrual bleeding ever get so heavy that it affects your work, school, or social activities?
6. Are you seeing or passing large clots during your period? Large clots are described as walnut or golf ball size. It wouldn’t be common to really see tissue, that is more typical for an actual miscarriage.
7. Is the blood you lose during your menstrual period bright red? The blood lost during a normal menstrual cycle is venous blood, it can clot, and usually appears dark in color.
8. Are your menstrual periods extremely crampy or painful? The amount of clotting may not be a very accurate sign of the amount of bleeding, but clotting can definitely cause pain as the clots passing the cervix cause the cervix to stretch and this stretch is what is hurting. Painful periods do not always have the same underlying cause as periods that are heavy.
For women who have heavy menstrual bleeding, know that we have been an active Clinical Research Trial Center at Women’s Health Practice, and are very current with the research. These signs likely mean your period is too heavy, we’d like you to call to discuss. In fact, with the right management, some providers argue you shouldn’t need a period at all, but that’s up to a personal consultation.
