The following things increase your chances of getting heavy periods. Doctors call them risk factors.

Women over age 40 are more likely than younger women to have heavy periods. In one study:

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Janssen CA, Scholten PC, Heintz AP.
Menorrhagia: a search for epidemiological risk markers.
Maturitas. 1997; 28: 19-25.

 

 

 

 

 

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One reason may be changes in women's

 

 

 

 

 

hormones
Hormones are chemicals that are made in certain parts of the body. They travel through the bloodstream and have an effect on other parts of the body. For example, the female sex hormone estrogen is made in a woman's ovaries. Estrogen has many different effects on a woman's body. It makes the breasts grow at puberty and helps control periods. It is also needed to get pregnant.

 

 

 

 

 

hormones as they approach

 

 

 

 

 

menopause
When a woman stops having periods, it is called menopause. This usually happens around the age of 50.

 

 

 

 

 

menopause (the time when their periods stop altogether).

As you near menopause, you are less likely to ovulate (when an egg is released from an ovary). Your body still makes the hormones estrogen and progesterone, although the amount of these will gradually get smaller and smaller. Because you get fewer periods, the lining of your womb can get very thick. So when your period starts, there is more blood than usual.

Also, as you get older, you are more likely to have

 

 

 

 

 

fibroid
A fibroid is a lump of extra tissue that can build up in the wall of your womb. Sometimes it can grow big enough to feel. It can cause pain and bleeding, and make it difficult for a fertilized egg to take hold in your womb. If these problems become too bad, you can have fibroids removed by surgery.

 

 

 

 

 

fibroids in your womb. These growths are not cancer, but can cause heavy periods.

If you have heavy periods, ask your mother if she had (or has) them too. Some research suggests that this condition may be inherited. This means it may be passed on from parent to child through

 

 

 

 

 

genes
Your genes are the parts of your cells that contain instructions for how your body works. Genes are housed on chromosomes, structures that sit in the nucleus at the middle of each of your cells. You have 23 pairs of chromosomes in your normal cells, each of which has thousands of genes. You get one set of chromosomes, and all of the genes that are on them, from each of your parents.

 

 

 

 

 

genes.

A study of identical twins (who have the same genes) showed that they had very similar blood loss during their periods. But the same wasn't true of non-identical twins (who don't have all the same genes).

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Rybo G, Hallberg L.
Influence of heredity and environment on normal menstrual blood loss: a study of twins.
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 1966; 45: 389-410.

 

 

 

 

 

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There is some evidence that women who've had children lose more blood during their periods than those who haven't. Women who've had more than three children seem to be most at risk.

But, since women who've had children are often older than women who haven't, it may be their age rather than the fact that they've had children that increases their risk of heavy periods.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Janssen CA, Scholten PC, Heintz AP.
Menorrhagia: a search for epidemiological risk markers.
Maturitas. 1997; 28: 19-25.

 

 

 

 

 

¹

Some research suggests that if you smoke, you are more likely to have problems with your periods, such as heavy bleeding, pain and bleeding between your periods. Your periods are also more likely to be long and irregular (the number of days between your periods varies a lot).

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Brown S, Vessey M, Stratton I.
The influence of method of contraception and cigarette smoking on menstrual patterns.
British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 1988; 95: 905-910.

 

 

 

 

 

³

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Kritz-Silverstein D, Wingard DL, Garland FC.
The association of behavior and lifestyle factors with menstrual symptoms.
Journal of Womens Health & Gender-Based Medicine. 1999; 8: 1185-1193.

 

 

 

 

 

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