A lot of women have dealt with heavy periods for so long that it just feels normal. Planning your week around your cycle, keeping spare clothes in the car, doubling up on protection overnight. But heavy bleeding is one of the most common reasons women see a gynecologist, and in most cases it can be treated.
Here is how to tell if your periods are heavier than they should be, what usually causes it, and the treatment options available at Oxford OB/GYN.
How Heavy Is Too Heavy?
The medical term for heavy menstrual bleeding is menorrhagia. You may be dealing with it if you:
- Soak through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours in a row
- Need to use a pad and a tampon at the same time
- Have to change protection during the night
- Have periods that last longer than 7 days
- Pass blood clots the size of a quarter or larger
- Skip plans or work because of your period
- Feel tired, short of breath, or lightheaded, which can be signs of anemia from blood loss
If any of that sounds familiar, it is worth bringing up at your next visit, or sooner if you feel weak or dizzy.
What Causes Heavy Periods?
Heavy bleeding is a symptom, not a diagnosis, so the first step is figuring out what is behind it. Common causes include:
- Hormone imbalance. When estrogen and progesterone are out of balance, the uterine lining can build up more than usual. This is common in the teen years and during perimenopause.
- Fibroids. Non-cancerous growths in the wall of the uterus that are very common, especially in women in their 30s and 40s.
- Polyps. Small growths on the lining of the uterus.
- Adenomyosis. When the tissue that lines the uterus grows into the muscle wall, often causing heavy, painful periods.
- Thyroid problems. An underactive thyroid can affect your cycle.
- Bleeding disorders. Conditions that affect how blood clots can show up first as heavy periods.
- Certain medications or a copper IUD. Some blood thinners and the copper IUD can make periods heavier.
How We Find the Cause
Your provider will start by talking through your cycle and health history. From there, your visit may include a pelvic exam, blood work to check for anemia or thyroid issues, and a pelvic ultrasound to look at the uterus and lining. In some cases, a small sample of the uterine lining may be taken in the office.
Heavy Periods Treatment Options
The right treatment depends on the cause, how much the bleeding affects your life, and whether you want to get pregnant in the future.
Medications
- Hormonal birth control such as the pill, patch, ring, or shot can make periods lighter and more predictable.
- Hormonal IUD. A levonorgestrel IUD can greatly reduce bleeding over time, and some women stop having periods altogether. It also works as long-acting birth control. Learn more about birth control options.
- Non-hormonal medications. Tranexamic acid, taken only during your period, helps blood clot and can reduce flow. Anti-inflammatory pain relievers can also lighten bleeding and ease cramps.
- Iron supplements to rebuild your iron levels if heavy bleeding has caused anemia.
NovaSure Endometrial Ablation
For women who are finished having children, NovaSure is a one-time procedure that removes the lining of the uterus to lighten or stop heavy periods. It is done without incisions, usually takes just a few minutes, and does not require ongoing pills or hormones. Most women get back to normal activities within a day or two.
Because pregnancy after an ablation can be dangerous, it is only for women who do not plan to get pregnant, and you will still need reliable birth control afterward.
Surgical Options
If fibroids, adenomyosis, or other problems are causing the bleeding and other treatments have not helped, surgery may be the best long-term answer. Oxford OB/GYN offers minimally invasive options, including vNOTES hysterectomy with no abdominal incisions and robotic surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System. These approaches usually mean less pain and a faster recovery than traditional open surgery.
When to Call Right Away
Call our office or seek care promptly if you are soaking through protection every hour for more than two hours, feel faint or dizzy, have bleeding after menopause, or could be pregnant and are bleeding heavily.
Heavy Period Treatment in Oxford, MS
You do not have to plan your life around your period. The gynecology team at Oxford OB/GYN helps women across Oxford and North Mississippi find the cause of heavy bleeding and the treatment that fits their life. Schedule an appointment to talk through your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my period is too heavy?
If you soak through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours, need to double up on protection, pass clots the size of a quarter or larger, or bleed longer than 7 days, your period is heavier than normal and worth checking.
Can heavy periods be treated without surgery?
Yes. Many women do well with hormonal birth control, a hormonal IUD, or non-hormonal medication taken during their period. NovaSure is another option that does not require incisions.
Who is a good candidate for NovaSure?
NovaSure is for women with heavy periods caused by benign conditions who are finished having children. Your provider will confirm whether it is a good fit after an exam.
Can heavy periods cause anemia?
Yes. Losing a lot of blood each month can lower your iron levels and lead to anemia, which can make you feel tired, weak, or short of breath. A simple blood test can check for it.