Heavy Periods: How Heavy Is Too Heavy, and When to Get It Checked

Soaking through a pad or tampon every hour or two, getting up at night to change, passing clots, or planning your whole week around your period: many women live with this for years because they were told periods are simply heavy for some people. If your period limits what you do, it is worth taking seriously.

Heavy menstrual bleeding is common, and it is not something you have to put up with. A useful rule is that the amount matters less than the effect on your life. Bleeding that stops you from working, exercising or sleeping, that needs double protection, that comes with clots larger than a coin, or that leaves you tired and breathless, deserves an assessment.

There are several possible reasons, and they differ by age. Fibroids and polyps in the womb, adenomyosis, hormonal changes in the years before menopause, thyroid problems, ovulation that is irregular, and clotting problems can all play a part. Sometimes no cause is found, which does not make the bleeding any less real.

An assessment begins with your story: how long it has lasted, how it has changed, how many days, whether it comes between periods or after sex, and your family history. A pelvic examination and an ultrasound scan look at the womb and ovaries. A blood test can check for low iron and thyroid function, and a cervical screening test is checked if it is due. Sometimes a small sample of the womb lining is advised, especially after the age of forty-five or if the pattern is unusual.

The options depend on the cause, your age and whether you want to have children. They can include tablets that reduce bleeding, hormonal treatment, treating a low iron level, and removing or treating a polyp or fibroid. Surgery is sometimes discussed for particular causes. It is not done at the clinic; if it is needed, it is carried out at โรงพยาบาลพระรามเก้า or โรงพยาบาลวิมุต. Your doctor will explain the benefits and limits of each choice, so you can decide what fits your life.

Results differ between individuals, and no outcome is guaranteed. What an assessment can reliably do is find out why it is happening, so that you are not guessing.

See a doctor sooner if bleeding is heavy enough to make you feel faint or breathless, if you are bleeding between periods or after sex, if you have bleeding after menopause, if you have severe pain, or if you might be pregnant. Go to emergency care if you are soaking through protection every hour for several hours.