Most women dread their period – especially when they experience heavy bleeding with almost every cycle! Heavy menstrual periods are known by their medical term menorrhagia and are described as excessive bleeding or prolonged bleeding every month. It can cause extreme discomfort, often leaving you feeling weak and light-headed. You may bleed so heavily that you are often forced to change your sanitary towel or tampon every two hours. Heavy menstrual periods can lead to a number of complications if not treated immediately.

Every woman’s menstrual cycle is different. Normal menstrual flow occurs every 28 days, but can range from 21 days to 35 days, and lasts approximately 4 days (total loss of blood = 30 to 40 milliliters = 2 to 3 tablespoons). When you bleed heavily, you are actually losing 80 milliters of blood or more (16 soaked sanitary products) during your menstrual cycle, and soaking a sanitary towel or tampon every 2 to 3 consecutive hours. Some women may even bleed for a prolonged period which lasts longer than seven days.

Heavy menstrual periods can affect any woman of childbearing age. However, young adolescents who have just started their period and are not ovulating properly as well as pre-menopausal women tend to be more susceptible to Heavy menstrual periods than others. Being overweight, using certain medications such as blood thinners and having a hereditary bleeding disorder can also influence Heavy menstrual periods.

What Causes Heavy Menstrual Periods?
-- Hormonal imbalance
-- Uterine fibroids
-- Endometriosis
-- Anovulation 
-- Polyps
-- Adenomyosis
-- Pregnancy complications (miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy)
-- Changes in birth control or estrogen use
-- Use of an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control
-- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
-- Thyroid problems
 
Help for Heavy Menstrual Periods
If you are bleeding heavily, certain self-care strategies such as making yourself comfortable, getting plenty of rest, drinking extra fluids and eating iron-rich foods can improve how you are feeling. Monitor your menstrual cycle so that you know when to expect your period, keep track of how heavy your flow is and the number of sanitary towels or tampons used.

Take over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen which will help to reduce flow and relieve menstrual pain. Remember to avoid aspirin as it can prolong bleeding. If you are anemic, you should also increase your intake of iron and folic supplements.

Your health practitioner may recommend a low–dose oral contraceptive pill or progesterone therapy to regulate the menstrual cycle and decrease bleeding. Surgical procedures may be required if drug treatment is not effective. These treatment options include a hysterectomy, endometrial ablation (intense ultrasound waves kill endometrial lining) or dilation and curettage (cervix is dilated and tissue is scraped from the lining of the uterus).