Learn about Heavy periods symptoms from Consumer Reports Health.

Heavy periods

What are the symptoms of heavy periods?

The main symptom is bleeding a lot during your periods. You may also have "flooding" (you suddenly lose a lot of blood, which soaks your pad or clothes).

You may find it hard to judge whether your periods are heavier than normal. Even talking to friends about it may not help. Women often have different ideas about what it means to have heavy periods.

Here's a list of things that may mean your periods are heavy.

Source:
Coulter A, Peto V, Jenkinson C.
Quality of life and patient satisfaction following treatment for menorrhagia.
Family Practice. 1994; 11: 394-401.

You use more than nine pads or tampons on your heaviest days.
You have to wear both a tampon and a pad (double protection).
Your period lasts more than six days.
You have to get up at night to change your protection.
You pass clumps of blood (blood clots).
You stain your bedding or clothes despite wearing tampons and pads.
You stay home during your period because you are worried you won't get to a bathroom in time to change your tampon or pad if you go out.
You feel tired, especially during your period. This could mean you have anemia. Anemia happens when your body is not able to make enough new

red blood cells
Red blood cells are the part of your blood that makes it red. Their main job is to carry oxygen from your heart and lungs out to the tissues of your body. Once these cells unload oxygen, they pick up carbon dioxide. They take carbon dioxide back to your lungs so you can breathe it out of your body.

red blood cells to make up for ones you lost during your period. Your doctor can find out if you have anemia by testing a sample of your blood. If your red cell count is low, you may need a treatment, such as iron pills, to help you make more red cells.

Sources for the information on this page:

Coulter A, Peto V, Jenkinson C.Quality of life and patient satisfaction following treatment for menorrhagia.Family Practice. 1994; 11: 394-401.

This information was last updated on Sep 01, 2008

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.