Heavy periods: what you need to know

Heavy periods can be an issue for around a quarter of women in Australia.

How much bleeding is too much? Everyone’s periods are different, and yours may change from month to month. Is your period having a negative impact on your life? If getting your period makes you feel upset/stressed anxious, is painful or makes it hard to leave the house because you’re concerned about bleeding through your clothes, it’s time to speak to your doctor.

What are some of the signs?
• Needing to change your pad or tampon every hour or less
• Needing to change your pad or tampon in the middle of the night
• Blood clots bigger than a 50-cent piece
• Bleeding for more than seven to eight days

There are lots of reasons for heavy periods. About a half of women don’t have an obvious problem in their uterus. It might be related to issues in the uterus that are unknown, for instance. There are simple tests your doctor or a specialist can do to find out the cause.

What are the treatment options? Sometimes with heavy periods, iron stores, called ferritin, and iron levels can get low. Your doctor might get you to take a blood test and recommend iron therapy if the levels are found to be low. This usually involves taking an iron supplement daily or, if the ferritin levels are very low, an iron infusion. Some doctors can do this in their clinic.

It is important to note that women who have gone through the menopause should not have any vaginal bleeding/spotting. If this occurs, see your doctor.

If you do have issues with heavy bleeding, you’re not alone. Find a health professional you feel comfortable talking to. They can help you. You don’t need to put up with heavy periods.

Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the knowledge of women’s health throughout the various stages of their lives, and to provide a trusted world-class health service for women.

We believe in physical and emotional health and wellbeing in all its dimensions for all women in Australia throughout their lives.

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